Jun

How to handle summertime injuries with kids

Summertime injuries are common because kids of all ages spend a lot of time outside running, playing, and taking part in different kinds of physical activities. Physical activities are important because they improve overall health, aid their development, help with weight reduction and it’s a great way for kids to build social skills.

You’ve probably been in a situation when one moment you’re sitting in the shade and looking over your children who’re playing outside. Everything seems perfect and carefree until you hear your child wince in pain. You don’t know what has happened, but you need to act quickly and stay calm.
If an injury happens, you need to know which steps to take and how to react properly.

Minor bruising and scrapes

Let’s say your kid was running around and tripped over a toy and bruised their knees. First, you need to check with your kid if anything hurts and if they can move their legs without any pain. Then, you have to clean up the surface wounds, use an antibiotic cream, apply some band-aid to stop the bleeding and also use it to soothe your child.

In case of swelling, you can also apply some ice to reduce it and provide pain relief. However, in case of a gaping wound, you’ll have to take your kid to the emergency to get professional medical care.

Injuries at a swimming pool

First of all, let’s talk about preventative steps. Before taking your child swimming, either at a swimming pool, ocean or lake, teach them how to swim. If they are still too young to learn, invest in proper swimming safety equipment. A swimming vest, armbands or flotation suits will provide a safety measure. Remain in the shallow end where you can be sure that you’ll minimise any risk of swimming injury.

Kids can slip and fall if they are running around the pool. The area around is slippery so make sure to monitor kids closely and instruct them how to behave.

If your kids are confident swimmers, you still need to be cautious. To prevent unintentional drowning, instruct your kids to stay within your reach in the water. In case you’re participating in any water sports or boat rides, your kids should wear a life jacket. All in all, if your kids are around water, monitor them closely at all times.

Bicycling, rollerblading and skateboarding injuries

Bikes, scooters, rollerblades, skateboards or anything else that kids use these days is equally fun and dangerous. Reasons why kids get injured while riding a bike can go from cycling too fast to trying to hold the wheel with one hand and losing their balance.

Proper safety equipment is the key to minimise the consequences of falling from a bike, skateboard or rollerblades. A helmet is a lifesaver because it lowers the likelihood of a head injury by 88%. Knee pads, elbow pads, gloves and a chin guard are a necessity. Invest in essential safety equipment to reduce the risk of a serious injury.

If your kid falls off a bike and is in a lot of pain, take him or her to the emergency.

Trampoline injury

Trampoline injuries are a common occurrence because the activity itself is demanding and physically draining. But, kids love and enjoy the fact they can jump from a surface that is meant just for that.

Before you let your kid jump on a trampoline, make sure the area is safely secured with a safety net. Also, make sure any hardware is covered with safety pads.

Then, instruct your child to jump in the middle so if they fall, they can fall on the safety pad. Only one kid at a time is allowed and make sure they are older than six. Remind them to take breaks to avoid overuse injuries like tendonitis, sprains or stress fractures. If your child sprained an ankle, take them to the doctor. The doctor will treat the injury and advise you on the next steps. You’ll probably have to take your child to see a skilled physiotherapist, like those at Movement 101 to regain strength and recover properly.

Injuries that happen at a playground

The most common injury that happens at a playground is falling. This can be dangerous because a kid can fall from a height onto a hard surface. Fractures, open wounds, head injuries can all be the result of a fall. If such injury happens, go straight to the emergency
To avoid this, think about the safety measures. First, you need to establish some playground rules like don’t climb on monkey bars. If you consider certain playground equipment not suitable for your child, try to communicate it lovingly.
Next, closely monitor your child because kids tend to break the rules. If the fall happens, you’ll respond quickly and assess the injuries.
You can also evaluate the safety of a playground yourself by choosing a playground that is built on a soft surface. If it’s built on concrete or gravel, and your kid is simply too young to know how to play safely, don’t play there.

Conclusion

Summertime injuries are inevitable because kids are active all the time and accidents happen. But, there are certain steps parents can take to prepare their kids for an injury-free summer. Safety equipment, some ground rules, and active monitoring will minimise the risk of an activity-related injury.