Gear up for summer Published June 6, 2013 By Staff Sgt. Maria Bowman 375th Air Mobility Wing Public Affairs SCOTT AIR FORCE BASE, Ill. -- It's the first game of the season-- the game your child has waited all year to play. He wears his team's uniform proudly. He steps out on the field ready to intimidate the other team. You watch as your child steps up to home plate, holding a bat that's almost as tall as he is. The pitch is thrown. Instead of hitting the catcher's glove, it strikes the unprotected head of the unsuspecting batter. An accident has just occurred, and your child was not wearing the proper safety equipment. Participating in sports or other recreational activities can be exciting and enjoyable. But, if safety precautions aren't taken, accidents can occur and cause broken bones, head injuries, mouth injuries and other injuries. Al Bromley, Health and Wellness Center exercise physiologist, said the safety equipment needed depends on the sport and level of competition. He said, "A lot of kids are going to be wearing braces and being hit in the mouth by someone else's elbow, knee or fist by accident can mess up braces or teeth, so using a mouth guard is important. Anytime your child plays a contact or collision sport, they need to wear a mouth guard. In softball or baseball, having sliding pants, wearing helmets with facemasks and protective gear on the ankles and elbows can reduce the risk of injury." Maj. Guy Venuti, 375th Medical Group attending pediatrician, said that the majority of sports injuries are sprains and muscle pull. "We see a lot of ankle injuries and sprains," Veniti said. "We see broken bones, concussions and heat-related illnesses occasionally. To prevent these injuries, a child needs to do proper conditioning and be in good physical condition before starting a sport. Before trying out, make sure the child is exercising two to three times a week for at least 30 minutes." In addition to being physically fit, Veniti said to make sure the child is staying hydrated. "Besides just drinking straight water, we have to make sure the kids are getting electrolytes," he said. "Have the children stay away from caffeine and the latest fad of energy drinks." Virginia Bennett, 375th Dental Squadron preventative dentistry chief, said she sees a lot of tooth injuries from not wearing the proper equipment. "We see children whose teeth have been knocked out from sports injuries," Bennett said. "Wearing mouth guards can reduce injuries. In football, where it's mandatory to wear mouth guards, teeth injuries areless than one percent. In basketball, where it isn't mandatory, almost 35 percent of injuries are tooth related." Bennett said the ideal mouth guards are custom made at the dental office. Mouth guards can also be bought at the store. Sports are not the only activity where a child should wear protective gear--some recreational activities also require additional safety equipment. "Skateboarding, inline skating, and bike riding will probably produce more injuries this summer than sports," she said. "Most of our more serious injuries occur from falling on hard surfaces. When you do anything on wheels, wearing a helmet is essential. The worst injury that most children sustain is a concussion.Concussions can be accumulative, so the more concussions someone sustains in one's lifetime, the more likely permanent damage will occur." Venuti said helmets help reduce the risk of serious head injuries. "Helmets protect the mandible and maxilla, along with the teeth," the pediatrician said. "Protecting not just the teeth, but the surrounding structures is huge. Not enough kids wear helmets when they are riding bikes, skateboarding and scooters. My guidance for these kids is anytime they are on something that moves faster than they walk, they should have a helmet on their head. These kids can become seriously jeopardized by one small head bump." Bromley recommends that when a child complains of pain, the parents should take that complaint seriously. "Kids are pretty accurate about relaying their pain levels," he said. "Listen to your child. If they keep complaining about a sore knee or back pain, take them seriously. Just because they are children doesn't mean they can't get hurt seriously. Look for changes in behavior--if they are tired all the time, limping or don't want to go back and play, find out why." No matter what activity a child participates in, wearing the correct safety equipment can prevent unnecessary injury to a child. For more information on the proper safety equipment, contact the HAWC at 618-256-7139.