Once upon a time, I was a figure skater. But these days, the only triple Salchow I perform is getting three kinds of milk for three different kids (well, two kids and a husband). And I miss spending day after day on the ice--I really do! But there's something I don't' miss about it.
A persnickety ankle.
Now, every once in a while, when I've gone on a particularly long run, that ankle will ache, but it's not the same as the chronic injury that plagued most of my skating career. And when I think back to all the skating, training, and eventually coaching that I used to do in one week, I sometimes wonder...
Was I overdoing it...just a bit?
That's a tough question to answer in a society that believes practices makes perfect, because wouldn't that mean that more practice makes more perfect? We overdo, overbuy, overstep, overeat, and maybe, just maybe, push ourselves (and eventually, perhaps our kiddos) a little too hard.
"What?" you ask. "Do you expect me to tell my kids to lie around on the couch so they never get hurt?"
Don't be silly. Sports are awesome. Sports will develop coordination, strength, teamwork, flexibility, (deep breath), perseverance, confidence, etc., etc., etc.
And working hard is a must. Believe me, five-thousand hip bruises later, I know what it takes to master something, to become stronger. But when it comes to your child, you are the best person to keep tabs on his or her well-being. Sports professionals are fantastic, and great for getting advice, but you are the person who knows your child best.
Keeping that in mind, here are two types of injuries to consider and some effective ways for preventing and handling them.
Accidental (or acute) injury - The Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) offers three steps for preventing this type of injury: 1) Gear up, 2) Use the right stuff, and 3) Pay attention to temperature. This means that it's your responsibility to know what type of safety gear is needed, to ensure gear is up-to-date (not broken or the wrong size), and to do things like keeping kids bundled up in the cold and hydrated no matter the temperature. Yes, that's a hefty list, but it may save you a trip to the emergency room.
And keep an eye on your child's energy level, says Yolanda Thomas, Director of the Lil' Kickers program at SoccerCity in Oklahoma City. "Many injuries are caused by fatigue," she warns.
Chronic injury - The other type of injury, the one I was whining about, is chronic. Basically, these type of injuries are often caused by overuse. On its list of preventing sports injury, the CDC does say "practice makes perfect," and despite my concerns with the phrase, they explain it this way: "Have children practice proper form – this can prevent injuries during baseball, softball, and many other activities. Also, be sure to safely and slowly increase activities to improve physical fitness; being in good condition can protect kids from injury."
Jackie Brenner, Skating Director at Arctic Edge Ice Arena in Edmond, says that professionals can help you understand the risk of chronic injury. In skating, making sure muscles are balanced, as well as stretching out the other direction (especially in a somewhat one-sided sport like figure skating), is critical to the body's health.
And finally, don't be afraid for your kid to take a small break or even try something different for a little while. Any type of sport will lead to better conditioning for all athletic activities, and at the end of the day, teaching a child the importance and satisfaction of a lifetime of physical activity is more important than a few more trophies on the shelf.
Showing posts with label emergency room. Show all posts
Showing posts with label emergency room. Show all posts
Thursday, February 27, 2014
Thursday, January 9, 2014
Fall injury prevention - A parent's do's and don't's for keeping junior out of the ER
We all fall. And at this time of year, with more ice hitting the U.S. than that seen on Disney's Frozen, staying upright is a real challenge.
But when it comes to our kiddos, preventing emergency-room worthy falls becomes a true calling. And it's not just that pesky ice outside that can send a child to the hospital.
One of my New Year resolutions is a renewed commitment to keeping my kids safe (within reason, of course--no child-size bubbles at this house). And I'm sharing my little "fall prevention" list with you. By no means is this list comprehensive, but if you manage to stick to the following, you may avoid the worst or, best case, the type of injury that makes for a long, scary night in the ER.
Do...strap kids into their seats. A new study from the Nationwide Children's Hospital showed a sharp increase of babies and toddlers needing emergency room care, and ninety-three percent of injury visits related to a high chair or booster seat were from a fall. 'Nuff said.
Do...childproof sharp corners. Babies like to pull themselves up and waddle around, all on those very unsteady legs of theirs. Toddlers run around like mad people, with little thought to corners (or furniture in general). You're not going to keep a kiddo from bumping into things, but you can lessen the injury by softening the edges of furniture. Check out local Red Bud Baby Planners for tips and help.
Do...wear helmets for certain activities. Wearing a bike helmet seems like a no brainer (sure, you survived without one growing up, but statistics show not everyone fared so well). But other sports, such as ice skating, are also activities where a little pre-planning will save you a preventable head injury.
Do...use nightlights. You can't see in the dark. Neither can your kids. Sometimes they come to your bed when the monsters come out at night. So, light the way.
On the other hand...
Don't...set children on countertops. It's tempting, I know, because they love it and it puts them on level with you. But whether you're drying their hair or making cookies together, the impact of a fall from that distance can be devastating. So pull out that little, colorful stool, and while your at it, you'll keep ideas of climbing on the counters out of their sweet little heads.
Don't...get lazy about child gates. They are a pain to step over (take it from me, at five-feet-tall). But there's some nifty ones with little doors in them now, and keeping a kiddo from falling down a flight of stairs seems like a small price to pay for the inconvenience.
Don't...leave ladders or stepstools out or readily available. Just too tempting. My toddler son can scale one in a matter of milliseconds. Milliseconds, I tell you. Put these things away as soon as you use them. Also, think about tethering large furniture to the wall. "As a mom and child proofer, I explain to clients that although every child is different and yours doesn’t climb (now), we don’t want to see what may happen the first time they try," says Stephanie Zerr of Red Bud Baby Planners.
Don't...be a slob. I have stepped on Legos, Barbie, Octonauts, and a variety of other, not-so-feet-friendly toys. Remember that thing I said about toddlers and babies wobbling and running around like crazy people? They don't pay attention so much to toys. And you know what? When you've got a mile-high pile of laundry in your arms, neither do you. So pick up. Or make the kids do it. And you might just keep the dog from eating a few toys in the process!
That's all for now! Check in next week for kitchen and bathroom safety tips...
But when it comes to our kiddos, preventing emergency-room worthy falls becomes a true calling. And it's not just that pesky ice outside that can send a child to the hospital.
One of my New Year resolutions is a renewed commitment to keeping my kids safe (within reason, of course--no child-size bubbles at this house). And I'm sharing my little "fall prevention" list with you. By no means is this list comprehensive, but if you manage to stick to the following, you may avoid the worst or, best case, the type of injury that makes for a long, scary night in the ER.
Do...strap kids into their seats. A new study from the Nationwide Children's Hospital showed a sharp increase of babies and toddlers needing emergency room care, and ninety-three percent of injury visits related to a high chair or booster seat were from a fall. 'Nuff said.
Do...childproof sharp corners. Babies like to pull themselves up and waddle around, all on those very unsteady legs of theirs. Toddlers run around like mad people, with little thought to corners (or furniture in general). You're not going to keep a kiddo from bumping into things, but you can lessen the injury by softening the edges of furniture. Check out local Red Bud Baby Planners for tips and help.
Do...wear helmets for certain activities. Wearing a bike helmet seems like a no brainer (sure, you survived without one growing up, but statistics show not everyone fared so well). But other sports, such as ice skating, are also activities where a little pre-planning will save you a preventable head injury.
Do...use nightlights. You can't see in the dark. Neither can your kids. Sometimes they come to your bed when the monsters come out at night. So, light the way.
On the other hand...
Don't...set children on countertops. It's tempting, I know, because they love it and it puts them on level with you. But whether you're drying their hair or making cookies together, the impact of a fall from that distance can be devastating. So pull out that little, colorful stool, and while your at it, you'll keep ideas of climbing on the counters out of their sweet little heads.
Don't...get lazy about child gates. They are a pain to step over (take it from me, at five-feet-tall). But there's some nifty ones with little doors in them now, and keeping a kiddo from falling down a flight of stairs seems like a small price to pay for the inconvenience.
Don't...leave ladders or stepstools out or readily available. Just too tempting. My toddler son can scale one in a matter of milliseconds. Milliseconds, I tell you. Put these things away as soon as you use them. Also, think about tethering large furniture to the wall. "As a mom and child proofer, I explain to clients that although every child is different and yours doesn’t climb (now), we don’t want to see what may happen the first time they try," says Stephanie Zerr of Red Bud Baby Planners.
Don't...be a slob. I have stepped on Legos, Barbie, Octonauts, and a variety of other, not-so-feet-friendly toys. Remember that thing I said about toddlers and babies wobbling and running around like crazy people? They don't pay attention so much to toys. And you know what? When you've got a mile-high pile of laundry in your arms, neither do you. So pick up. Or make the kids do it. And you might just keep the dog from eating a few toys in the process!
That's all for now! Check in next week for kitchen and bathroom safety tips...
Subscribe to:
Posts (Atom)