With summer just around the corner, more kids will be out playing baseball, riding bikes, skateboarding, swimming and enjoying other outdoor recreational activities. After a long winter, many adults are as enthusiastic about delving into outdoor do-it-yourself home repairs, gardening, and recreational activities, as their kids are about playing outside.
The prospect of summer is especially appealing to those living in cold-weather climates, but there also tends to be an increase in the number of head injuries with the onset of warm weather.
According to the American Association of Neurological Surgeons (AANS), the most recent statistics from the U.S. Consumer Product Safety Commission indicate that there were an estimated 309,000 sports-related head injuries treated in US hospital emergency rooms in 2005. The following 10 spring/summer sports represent the categories contributing to the highest number of estimated head injuries treated that same year:
?Cycling: 64,140
?Powered Recreational Vehicles (ATVs, Dune Buggies, Go-Carts, Mini bikes, Off-road): 26,093
?Basketball: 25,241
?Baseball and Softball: 22,919
?Water Sports (Diving, Scuba Diving, Surfing, Swimming, Water Polo, Water Skiing): 17,505
?Soccer: 14,674
?Skateboards/Scooters: 13,248
?Horseback Riding: 10,377
?Golf: 7,885
?Trampolines: 5,347
There are hazards outside the home that can lead to serious head injuries. The following 10 outdoor activities represent the categories contributing to thousands of additional head injuries:
?Swings or Swing Sets: 9,085
?Monkey Bars, Climbing Playground: 7,339
?Slides, Sliding Boards, See Saws, Teeter Boards: 6,164
?Playground Equipment (other): 5,169
?Gardening (Hoses, Sprinklers, Nozzles, Supplies, Non-powered Tools): 4,816
?Lawnmowers (all types): 2,513
?Decorative Yard Equipment: 1,758
?Wagons: 1,731
?Riding Toys: 1,434
?Camping Equipment, Hammocks: 1,316
The AANS offers these General Head Injury Prevention Tips:
?Wear a seatbelt every time you drive or ride in a motor vehicle.
?Never drive while under the influence of drugs or alcohol or ride as a passenger with anybody else who is under the influence.
?Do not wear any clothing that can interfere with your vision.
?Inspect and remove debris from lawns before mowing or gardening.
?Inspect and remove debris from walkways and steps.
?Keep hazardous materials or equipment safely out of the reach of children.
?Store outdoor equipment properly.
?Supervise children at all times in workshops and garages.
Recreation and Sports-Related Head Injury Prevention Tips:
?Buy and use helmets or protective head gear approved by the ASTM for specific sports 100 percent of the time.
?Wear appropriate clothing for the sport.
?Do not participate in sports when you are ill or very tired.
?Discard and replace sporting equipment or protective gear that is damaged.
?Never slide head-first when stealing a base.
?Follow all rules and warning signs at water parks, swimming pools, and public beaches.
?Do not dive in water less than 9 feet deep or in above-ground pools. Check the depth ? and check for debris in the water before diving.
?Obey all traffic signals and be aware of drivers when cycling or skateboarding.
?Avoid uneven or unpaved surfaces when cycling, skateboarding, or in-line skating.
?Supervise younger children at all times, and do not let them use sporting equipment or play sports unsuitable for their age. Do not let them use playgrounds with hard surface grounds.
?Perform regular safety checks of sports fields, playgrounds and equipment.