3 Things Every Parent Should Know About Keeping Young Athletes Safe

Our friends at Alliance Insurance have provided a few tips to help keep your kids safe during the upcoming season.

Your child should get his or her heart checked.
More than 75 young athletes succumb every year to sudden cardiac death due to undetected heart defects. The American Heart Association recommends that kids who play sports get a thorough physical exam every two years. Check whether your child’s school has automated external defibrillators (which can deliver a lifesaving shock during cardiac arrest), and make sure the devices are present at school athletic events.

The brain needs rest after a head injury.
When recovering from a concussion, kids should get “cognitive rest,” which can mean refraining from thinking activities such as challenging schoolwork. Talk to your child’s doctor and school about easing him back into his studies, and monitor his symptoms.

One-sport athletes should take extra precautions. As more youths play one sport practically year-round, overuse injuries like pitcher’s elbow have begun to spike. To help prevent such injuries, underage athletes should follow the 10 percent rule: Don’t increase training intensity, frequency, or duration by more than 10 percent per week. Kids should take at least 10 weeks off from their sport each year.

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