>>Youth Sports Injury Facts

• Each year more than 3.5 million children in the United States under age 15 are treated for sports injuries.
• Children ages 5 to 14 account for nearly 40 percent of all sports-related injuries treated in hospital emergency departments. Injuries increase as children become larger, faster and more competitive.
• More than half of all sports injuries occur at practice.
• The number one cause of death among athletes is cardiac disease, traumatic head and neck injury is second, and heat illness ranks third.
• 21 percent of all traumatic brain injuries among U.S. children are sports or recreation related.
• The following percentages of athletes ages 5 to 14 have been injured playing their respective sports:

Tips for parents, coaches and trainers:

• The National Center for Sports Safety's PREPARE course educates coaches in the basics of sports safety, emergency response and injury prevention.
• Coaches should be certified in cardiopulmonary resuscitation (CPR). If not, a health committee of parents, trained in first aid and CPR, should be organized to provide basic coverage at practices and games.
• An emergency plan, detailing how to respond to injuries until professional help arrives, should be developed and communicated to all parents.
• A fully-stocked first aid kit should be accessible for all practices and games. The kit should include up-to-date medical histories of each player and parents' contact information.
• One way to prevent heat illness in athletes is proper hydration. Water is an adequate beverage for exercise that lasts less than 45-50 minutes. Otherwise, a sports drink should be provided.

Sources: National Center for Sports Safety (www.SportsSafety.org), National Athletic Trainers' Association, National SAFE KIDS Campaign.