Archive for the 'Safety' Category

Concussions on the Rise among Child Athletes

Published on August 31, 2010 in Prevention, Safety and Uncategorized. 0 Comments

girls playing soccerSchool is starting up and this means a return to school sports. A hot topic related to this is that of concussions, which has gained a lot of press recently due the awareness that head injuries occur more often than we have realized in the past. Just this month, the journal Pediatrics published a clinical report on the topic. The passage of the Lystedt Law in May of 2009 has also helped with recognition of the problem at hand. It requires schools to have guidelines and informational forms to educate coaches, athletes, and parents about head injuries and concussions. It also requires the parents and athlete sign a form regarding informed consent about the risks of head injuries. It mandates that any athlete suspected of having a concussion or head injury be removed from play and requires that the athlete have written clearance from a health care provider prior to returning to play.

What is a concussion? A concussion is an injury that changes how the cells in the brain normally work. A concussion is caused by a blow to the head or body that causes the brain to move rapidly inside the skull. Even a ding or “getting your bell rung” or what seems to be a mild bump or blow to the head can be serious. Concussions can also result from a fall or players colliding with each other or with obstacles.

The signs of a concussion can range from very mild like being a little confused or forgetful, such as not turning in an assignment or not being able to recall events before or after the impact. Symptoms can consist of headache, pressure in the head, nausea, vomiting, dizziness, balance problems, blurry or double vision, light and noise sensitivity, feeling slowed down or in a fog, drowsiness just to name a few.

Some sports have higher rates of concussions than others. At the top of the list is football but beyond that, girls sports have higher rates of concussions than boys in similar sports. For example, girls basketball has a three-fold greater risk of concussion than boys basketball. In order of decreasing frequency the top five are below:

  • Football
  • Girls Soccer
  • Boys Lacrosse
  • Boys Soccer
  • Girls Basketball

Don’t think that concussions only occur in the high school athlete. The recently published study in journal Pediatrics found that the rates of concussions in children as young as eight years of age nearly doubled for the top five sports even though the total number of children participating in those sports decreased.

The takeaway message is to recognize that any concussion is serious and not to be ignored. The days of saying “they got their bell rung” and then being sent back out to play are over.

The Scoop on Sunscreen

Published on July 27, 2010 in Safety. 1 Comment Tags: .

My wife would be the first one to tell you that I use a lot of sunscreen whether it is here around Seattle or on vacation in Maui. Many of my patients have heard me tell them to use it if they do not want to look like a thick brown piece of leather when they are older. Having said that, kids do like to have fun in the sun, which is why we have sunscreen.

These days there are so many sunscreen options out there it is hard to know which one to pick. They are all the same, right? The answer is no. Some have better  protection than others and some are safer than others. When it comes to higher SPF ratings, at some point it becomes a numbers game. Most people do not apply enough sunscreen nor do they reapply it often enough. Ideally it should be applied 30 minutes Continue reading ‘The Scoop on Sunscreen’

The Heat is On

Published on July 8, 2010 in Parenting, Prevention and Safety. 2 Comments Tags: , , .

It is hard to believe that just a few days ago it was raining on the Fourth of July as fireworks went off. To my surprise, I got called in to work on the Fourth at the Group Health Urgent Care. I am happy to report that I did not see any firework related injuries on that day.

With the hot weather, many of us will head to the outdoors to play in the sun but it is important to take some precautions. Smaller children can be much less tolerant of the heat than us grown ups due to the greater body surface area in proportion to their weight. They also may not drink enough liquids to keep up. This can lead to heat stroke or dehydration, so it is important to pay attention.

Some tips:
1. Drink liquids frequently throughout the day and especially during periods of exercise in the heat. They should be drinking liquids before, during and after an activity even if they are not thirsty.

2. Allow time for acclimation to the heat. If your child is not use to exercising, starting now in this heat is not the best idea.

3. Take advantage of shade or other opportunities to cool off.

4.  Watch for signs of dehydration or overheating. The signs can include irritability, fatigue, being flush, or nausea and vomiting just to name a few.

5. Use sunscreen along with protective clothing like hats. Apply the sunscreen frequently. Most people do not apply enough so be generous with it.

Have fun and be safe

Safer Surfing

Published on May 20, 2010 in Internet, Safety and Uncategorized. 0 Comments Tags: , , , .

girl with laptop

The Internet is a wonderful tool as it puts so much knowledge at our fingertips. This is both good and bad. The Internet magnifies some of the more challenging milestones of adolescence–like social pressures and sexuality.  There’s Internet bullying through Facebook and other social networking sites, text messaging with inappropriate photos, and webcam “chatting.” Aside from the opportunities for peers to do harm to other peers, there are sexual predators lurking online who might try to do them harm as well.

There are chances for positive social interaction and learning online, but also possibilities for hurtful interaction and danger.  How do you impress upon kids the importance of Continue reading ‘Safer Surfing’

Sports Physicals, Sports Injuries

Published on May 18, 2010 in Prevention, Safety and exercise. 0 Comments Tags: , , .

Summertime is rapidly approaching and for a pediatrician, this means lots of well visits as parents bring in their children to get a check up. Sometimes parents will call it the sports physical which is fine, but it is really an opportunity to assess the child and cover a variety of topics ranging from nutrition and injury prevention to discussing high-risk teen behaviors and depression. Quite often this is the one time a year I may see a healthy teenager, so there is a lot to cover.

Certain injuries and ailments are much more common than others and they vary by the sport the child participates in. During the growing years, a child’s bones grow faster than Continue reading ‘Sports Physicals, Sports Injuries’

Get Ready for Cycling

Published on May 11, 2010 in Out and About, Safety and Uncategorized. 0 Comments Tags: , , .

Cycling child

For those of you who know me well, I love to run and manage to get to far away places with nothing but my own two feet. Patients spot me running all over Redmond. I do not even own a bicycle at this time, but now that my daughter has learned how to ride a two-wheeler, it is time for me to reconsider. My daughter can cover a lot more ground on her bike than by foot right now and I want to encourage this.

Bicycling is an excellent way for a family to exercise and encourage a healthy lifestyle. It is one of those memorable childhood developmental milestones. It is also great that Group Health promotes cycling as a way to get and stay in shape, and have a bunch of fun in the process.  There are numerous events that they sponsor throughout the year.

Families can start introducing their children to the sport  at a young age by taking them along in the bike trailer with the right safety equipment on, of course. Children also need to be taught bike safety like riding with traffic and obeying traffic signals Continue reading ‘Get Ready for Cycling’

When Disaster Strikes

Published on January 21, 2010 in Parenting, Prevention, Safety, Vaccine, Vitamins and school. 1 Comment Tags: , .

Certainly there is a lot going on in the world right now and it is impossible for our children to not hear about disasters that are occurring. Haiti is just a recent example.

Depending on the age, it is very appropriate to limit children’s exposure to graphic images of disaster victim’s devastation that are all over the news right now. This can be quite overwhelming to a child and needs to be done with care. Continue reading ‘When Disaster Strikes’

The Booster Seat

Published on October 20, 2009 in Safety and school. 0 Comments Tags: , , .

A common question that comes up in clinic is around when to transition to a booster seat. Typically for most children it is around 4 years of age. In our household we initially did this at 4 but briefly transitioned back to a traditional car seat because with my active daughter, the shoulder strap was everywhere but her shoulder.

In Washington State, all children need to be in a safety seat until 8 years of age or at least 57 inches (4′9″). Very few children in this State will be at the height requirement under 8 years of age. For children under 13 years of age, it is also recommended that they be transported in the rear seats.

A recent study published in the journal Pediatrics supports the use of booster seats in children 4-8 years of age.  Below is the link and the article.

http://www.reuters.com/article/healthNews/idUSTRE59I4BE20091019?sp=true

Study reaffirms benefit of car booster seats

Mon Oct 19, 2009 1:19pm EDT
By Megan Brooks

NEW YORK (Reuters Health) – Using a booster seat instead of just a seat belt significantly reduces the risk of injury in children aged 4 to 8 years old who are involved in a car crash, according to an updated assessment of booster seat effectiveness released today. Continue reading ‘The Booster Seat’

Back to School and the Backpack

Published on September 22, 2009 in Prevention, Safety and school. 0 Comments Tags: , , .

Yesterday I looked at my daughter with her school backpack on and realized it was quite large compared to her size. Fortunately there were not many things inside it, yet…..

It is important for parents to make sure that their child is not carrying more than they should be.

Below is what the American Academy of Pediatrics has to say on this topic.

BACKPACK SAFETY

  • Choose a backpack with wide, padded shoulder straps and a padded back.
  • Pack light. Organize the backpack to use all of its compartments. Pack heavier items closest to the center of the back. The backpack should never weigh more than 10 to 20 percent of the your child’s body weight.
  • Always use both shoulder straps. Slinging a backpack over one shoulder can strain muscles.
  • Consider a rolling backpack. This type of backpack may be a good choice for students who must tote a heavy load. Remember that rolling backpacks still must be carried up stairs, and they may be difficult to roll in snow.

My Shins Hurt

Published on August 4, 2009 in Safety and school. 0 Comments Tags: , , .

School is just around the corner which means another season of sports and activities.  I am seeing lots of children coming in for their well visits which provides an opportunity to talk about injury prevention.  A common one in shin splints  which typically occur from a repetitive pounding type activity such as running. Starting the training period too aggressively does not allow the body to adjust. There is a lot to the old saying that slow and steady wins the race.

 

 

Shin Splints

Shin splints is a generic term referring to pain along the shin bone caused by an inflammation of tendons and muscles of the shin. Shin splints are very common and often preventable. Most cases of shin splints can be treated with RICE-Rest, Ice, Compression and Elevation. This treatment is easy …but hard. Hard because a big part of getting better is rest—not a fun thing for most kids. Also important is ensuring your child has properly fitting footwear with plenty of impact-absorbing material in the foot and heel area.