By Afshin Ghayoumi, M.D.

The school year is ending and summer is coming. Kids of all ages are ready to get out of class and enjoy playing different kinds of sports. Physical activities are great for helping children stay fit and form friendships, but parents have an important role to play in making sure summer sports are safe.

Almost 30 million children and teenagers participate in sports activities each year in the United States. This translates into roughly half of all children between ages 5 and 18 out there being active. Unfortunately, more than a third of these children and teens will sustain a sports-related injury that is significant enough to be seen by a medical professional. These injuries account for more than 750,000 annual visits to emergency departments – and the true number of injuries may actually be even higher because not all young athletes seek medical attention when hurt.
Fortunately, few childhood sporting injures have a significant impact. Some, however, can cause long-term, or even permanent, damage.

The good news is that most of these injuries are preventable. The Centers for Disease Control and Prevention estimates that half of all sports injuries in children and teens can be avoided with proper education and use of protective equipment. Parents should ensure that protective equipment fits properly, is in good condition and is used correctly. Even the most advanced helmet will do little good if it flies off in an accident because it is the wrong size or is worn without the chin strap being fastened.

In addition, parents can help protect their children by asking some questions about local sports programs. Less than 10 percent of the 2.5 million volunteer coaches and less than one third of the interscholastic coaches in the United States have received formal training in coaching. In fact, the United States is the only country in the major sporting world that does not have a national coaching education program. There are no federal laws requiring coaching education at any level of competition.

Your pediatrician and family doctor can help you and your family have a safe and satisfying sporting experience this summer. Here are some basic questions to consider when reviewing a sports program for children:

• Is the sport appropriate for your child’s age and physical ability?
  
• Does the coach have enough training in the activity your child is involved in – and does he or she know how to react if an injury occurs?
  
• Does the sport program offer gradual physical conditioning and enough training before events to avoid overuse injuries resulting from overly intense activity?
  
• Is safety equipment available or required? If so, does the equipment fit properly? Does it meet national standards? Is it in good condition?
  
• Is there a first-aid box and ice available at all practice and game sites? What other first aid measures are available or required?

Sports are a great part of summer, and physical activities are vital to the well being of children and teens, as well as our best tool in the fight against childhood obesity. Just remember to take a few simple precautions before enrolling your children in athletic activities.

For additional information, visit the National Youth Sports Safety Foundation Web site.

Dr. Ghayoumi is a family medicine physician at PAMF’S Fremont Center.