USBJD 2009 “Go Outside and Play – Safely”
Promoting Safe Sports and Recreation during National Bone and Joint Awareness Week
When you encourage your kids to “Go Outside and Play,” Shriners Hospitals for Children recommends adding one more word – “Safely.”
Participating in sports, riding bicycles or skateboards, and climbing on the jungle gym at the local playground are all fun, healthy activities for kids. However, injuries requiring medical attention occur during all sports and recreational activity – from basketball to bouncing on trampolines.
About 30 million children and teens in the U.S. participate in organized sports programs each year, and, according to the American Academy of Pediatrics (AAP), approximately 3.5 million children under age 15 receive medical attention for sports and recreation-related injuries each year. In fact:
• Almost a third of childhood injuries are sports or recreation-related.
• More than 200,000 preschool and elementary school-age children are injured on playgrounds each year, primarily from falls.
• Approximately half of all childhood sports and recreation-related injuries involve bicycles, skates and skateboards
• Children ages 5-14 incur almost half of sports-related injuries, and more than 775,000 of them receive treatment in an emergency room
• The most serious injuries happen during individual activities
Many of these injuries could have been prevented by following some simple safety tips and guidelines.
Raising Awareness
Bone and Joint Decade, which continues through 2011, is a concerted worldwide effort to increase understanding and treatment of musculoskeletal disorders and injuries through prevention, education and research.
During U.S. Bone and Joint Decade’s National Awareness Week, Oct. 12-20, Shriners Hospitals for Children will work to raise awareness of the importance of making sure children participate in sports and recreation in a safe manner in order to avoid and prevent unnecessary injuries.
About Shriners Hospitals for Children
Shriners Hospitals for Children is a recognized leader in efforts to understand, prevent and treat musculoskeletal problems associated with pediatric orthopaedic conditions and injuries. The 19 Shriners Hospitals for Children that treat orthopaedic problems can provide information and resources to help parents, educators and other professionals help ensure that recreation is both fun and safe for today’s children.
Shriners Hospitals for Children is an international health care system dedicated to providing pediatric specialty care, innovative research and outstanding teaching programs. Children up to age 18 with orthopaedic conditions, burns, spinal cord injuries, and cleft lip and palate are eligible for care and receive all services with no financial obligation to patients or their families.
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