At my house, we love sports! The children play soccer and basketball. They are all athletic and very competitive! Believe me – this sure makes for a mean game of Monopoly when we are off the field!
* Children should always wear sport-specific, properly fitting safety gear when participating in sports activities.
* All children should receive a general health exam before enrolling in a sports program.
* Provide children with proper training and skills-building when they are learning a new sport, so that they are physically and psychologically conditioned for its demands.
* Ensure that children drink an adequate amount of liquids while engaging in athletic activities. Provide frequent rest periods during hot or humid weather.
* Adults should be present at all times to ensure a safe playing environment and the enforcement of safety rules.
* Group children according to skill level, weight and physical maturity, especially for contact sports.
* Coaches and other on-field personnel should be trained in first aid and CPR.
We have had our share of injuries. We’ve had broken bones, pulled hamstrings, bloody noses, and sore muscles. But over the last five years we’ve had to deal with something a lot more serious – sports induced asthma. My daughter would be playing soccer and start to double over on the field. She simply couldn’t breathe. She said it felt like “breathing through a straw” when she’d be out there running. Almost anything would trigger it – the cold air or fresh cut grass. We’ve now learned to manage the problem. In order to play, she has to be on a preventative medication and use an inhaler. Sometimes she has to leave the field and use her inhaler in order to continue to play. Although she’s had this condition, she’s never let it stop her! My 12 year old son is now experiencing this same problem – it must run in the family. Luckily for him, we know how to deal with it. Please contact your doctor if your child has difficulty breathing while playing sports. There is help and they don’t have to give up doing what they love.
-Jenny