As the summer months approach many families are gearing up for participation in outdoor sports such as: bicycling, horseback riding, pickup basketball games, family picnic football games, Sunday afternoon baseball games and skateboarding. They’re excited, ready to shed their winter clothes and go outside and enjoy the fun of summer activities.

Summer sports safety awareness is all about knowing what kind of protective equipment is necessary for each individual sport, what kinds of injuries can result without protective gear and what to do if an injury occurs. When steps are taken to use protective equipment, minor and severe injuries are averted and everyone goes home at the end of the day happy and healthy.

The most important pieces of protective equipment are: helmets, goggles, mouth, chin and wrist guards, elbow and knee pads and closed, slip-resistant shoes. These eight relatively-inexpensive items can prevent or reduce the risk of injuries to the skull, brain, eyes, teeth, lips, tongue, chin, wrists, elbows, knees, ankles, feet and toes.

There are two types of sports helmets: bicycle and multi-sport. Bicycle helmets are made of hard foam and plastic. The most important feature of the bicycle helmet is the openings for ventilation allowing for air to circulate and help keep the head cool. Multi-sport helmets are made for high-speed/high-impact sports such as skateboarding and football. This type of helmet covers more of the head and doesn’t need to be replaced if slightly dented or damaged. The first time a bicycle helmet is cracked or damaged it needs to be replaced immediately.

Eye protection is critical when playing basketball or football. Wearing goggles while playing these two contact and collision sports respectively helps to prevent blunt or penetrating ocular injuries. Types of injuries to and around the eye are detached retina, broken bone beneath the eye and a bruised eye also known as a ‘black eye’. Some sports players may think of goggles as a hindrance however, as with any other type of protective equipment you eventually get used to wearing it.

Mouth guards are irreplaceable when it comes to protecting teeth and the soft tissues of the mouth: lips, tongue and inner cheek. Taking a blow to the mouth from an elbow during a basketball game is traumatic and painful. A facial injury is considered head trauma. The blunt force of an elbow can crack, break or even dislodge teeth. It can split a lip to the extent of needing stitches. A mouth guard greatly reduces the risk of mouth injuries. Mouth guards are made out of a hard plastic material. They can be set in warm water to soften and then placed in the user’s mouth to conform to the shape of their mouth and bite. Mouth guards need to be rinsed or washed with toothpaste or mouth wash before and after each use. They need to be stored in an unbendable container with holes for ventilation.

Chin and wrist guards, elbow and knee pads and slip-resistant shoes are what are collectively known as fall protection for those who skateboard, roller blade or roller skate. The types of injuries resulting from a fall while engaging in these activities are fractures, bruises, sprains, abrasions and dislocations. The body areas exposed to the greatest risk for injury are: chin, elbow, arm, wrist, fingers, knee, shin, ankle, feet and toes. Chin guards and elbow and knee pads reduce the risk of abrasions from unforgiving pavement and gravel. Wrist guards help prevent fractures and broken bones. The appropriate footwear can help protect ankles, foot bones and toes. Shoes that are closed and have a good grip are considered appropriate footwear for skateboarding.

Summertime activities are a great pastime for most families. Unfortunately, accidents do happen. Therefore, it’s important to know what to do when a child, relative or friend sustains an injury. You can never go wrong by calling 911 after any accidental fall, blunt force trauma or even heat exhaustion.
If someone has sustained a head injury or they are unconscious, call 911. If they are bleeding uncontrollably or are having difficulty breathing, call 911. If they are having a seizure or having difficulty with their speech or vision, call 911. If the injury is not severe and does not require immediate transport to a hospital then either a trip to a walk-in clinic or an immediate phone call to the family physician is the next best course of action.
While having fun will be at the top of many to-do lists this summer even higher up on the list should be safety awareness. Get out there and have fun but before you do, get informed and get equipped! As Ben Franklin said, “An ounce of prevention is worth a pound of cure.”