Start of Spring Sports - What you need to do to protect your child

The following article comes from Examiner.com. It's a good article on preparing for spring sports including how to properly protect your chompers.

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Soccer, track, lacrosse, tennis are just a few of the sports middle school athletes across the country are trying out for this week and next. It’s good time to review with your tween some safety tips and reminders.

According to the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention, baseball, soccer, basketball and football account for about 80% of the all sports-related emergency room visits for children between the ages of 5 and 14. And with more than 30 million children in the United States participating in sports, that can mean about 3.5 million receive care for an injury.

Adding to that statistic, researchers found that 62 % of the injuries occur during practices, not games. "When we think of sports injuries, we tend to think of dramatic tackles or falls - such as the plays you often see on highlight reels, but young athletes are also at risk of injuries," says Rene Hopkins, Coordinator of Safe Kids East Central. "If your coach recommends certain types of warm-ups, it's not just to make you a better athlete - it will help keep you from getting hurt."

The American Association of Orthodontists (AAO) is encouraging kids to “play it safe” and consistently wear mouth guards and other protective gear during competitions and practices.

Safe Kids USA adds the following safety recommendations for all children playing or practicing individual and team sports:

• Never "play through" an injury. Get immediate help from a coach or trainer and be sure to mention everything that hurts or aches. All coaches should have a plan for dealing with emergencies.
• If you're playing outside, wear SPF 15 or higher sunscreen.
• Follow the rules. In most sports, the rules are based not only on sportsmanship, but safety.
• Last but not least: "Stay hydrated," says Hopkins. "Drink plenty of water or electrolyte sports drinks before and during the activity, and rest frequently during hot weather. A child can lose up to a quart of sweat during two hours of exercise, and kids get overheated more quickly than adults and cannot cool down as easily."