Original source :
http://researchonmedical.com
Posted : May 2013
Here is an account
of common injuries that children sustain while playing sports:
Signs And
Symptoms:
* Fatigue.
* Nausea.
* Weakness.
* Dizziness.
* Dry, cool skin.
* Not being able to
sweat.
* Irritability.
* Eyes that appear to
be sunken in.
* Dark urine.
* Dry, sticky mouth.
Prevention:
The best way to
prevent dehydration is to make sure kids get plenty of fluids when they’re
physically active - they should consume more fluids than they lose from
sweating. It’s important that kids drink often during hot weather. Those
who participate in sports or strenuous activities should drink some extra fluid
before the activity begins. They should also drink at regular intervals (every
20 to 30 minutes) during the course of the activity and after it ends. Ideally,
sports practices and competitions should be scheduled for the early morning or
late afternoon to avoid the hottest part of the day.
Treatment:
The goal in
treating dehydration is to replace fluids in order to restore the levels of
body fluids to normal. The replacement of lost fluids is known as rehydration,
which is achieved by replacing the lost fluids using an oral rehydration salt
(ORS) over the course of a few hours. Start the rehydration process by giving
your child 1 or 2 teaspoons (5 or 10 milliliters) of an ORS every few
minutes. Although this may not seem like enough fluids to rehydrate your
child, these small amounts can add up to more than a cup (237 milliliters) an
hour. Even kids who are vomiting can usually be successfully rehydrated
this way because the small frequent sips get absorbed in between the vomiting
episodes.
2. Fractured Growth
Plate:
 |
| Growth Plate Fractures |
Fractured growth plates
are also a common injury in children that play sports. It is most seen in the
“long bones,” such as the upper leg, forearm, and bones in the foot. Growth
plate injuries are most common in sports that use repetition, such as running,
football, or basketball. If left untreated, your child’s bones can become
misshapen or cause the bone to become crooked as it grows.
Signs And Symptoms:
* Inability to put
weight or pressure on the limb
* Pain or discomfort
* Inability to move
the limb
First Aid:
* If you suspect your
child has a bone injury, try to give first aid until medical care can be
provided:
* Remove clothing
from the injured area.
* Apply an ice pack
wrapped in cloth.
* Keep the injured
limb in the position you find it.
* Place a simple
splint, if you have one, on the broken area. The splint should be applied in
the position of the injured limb to help keep it from bending or moving - do
not try to move or straighten the limb. Splints can be made by using cardboard,
a stack of newspapers, or anything firm, and can be padded with pillows,
shirts, towels, or anything soft. Splints must be long enough to extend beyond
the joints above and below the injury.
* Get medical care,
and don’t allow the child to eat in case surgery is required.
Treatment:
Treatment for
growth plate injuries initially involves resting and not bearing weight on the
affected limb. Most of the time this can be accomplished by wearing a cast,
splint, or brace over the area to prevent movement. This may be the only
treatment necessary for minor growth plate injuries. Other times,
however, bones that are displaced may have to be manipulated back into place
through a gentle procedure, called a reduction. A reduction can be done quickly
in a doctor’s office and only takes a few seconds to put the bones back into
alignment. Afterward, the child may wear a splint or a brace for a few weeks to
ensure that the bones do not move out of place. In kids older than
13 or young children with complicated injuries, surgery might be needed to
realign the bones and fix the growth plate. Surgical plates, screws, or wires
might secure the area so that the bone continues to grow normally. After
surgery, some kids will wear a cast during recovery.
3. Cuts, Scrapes,
Lacerations And Bruises:
* Cuts, lacerations,
gashes and tears (wounds that go through the skin [dermis] to the fat or
muscle tissue)
* Scrapes, abrasions,
scratches and floor burns (superficial wounds that don’t go all the way
through the skin)
* Bruises (bleeding
into the skin) without an overlying cut or abrasion
Prevention:
The best way to
help prevent these injuries is to make sure your child wears the proper sports
equipment that allows your child’s skin to be protected.
Treatment:
If these injuries do
occur, seek appropriate first aid techniques, such as cleansing the affected
area, applying an antibacterial cream, and covering the scrape with a clean
dressing to prevent infection.
When Sutures
(stitches) are Needed
* Any cut that is
split open or gaping needs sutures.
* Cuts longer than ½
inch (12 mm) usually need sutures.
* On the face, cuts
longer than ¼ inch (6 mm) usually need closure with sutures or skin glue.
* Any open wound that
may need sutures should be checked and closed as soon as possible (ideally,
within 6 hours). There is no cutoff, however, for treating open wounds to
prevent wound infections.
4. Concussions:
Signs and symptoms:
* Headache or a
feeling of “pressure” in the head
* Nausea or vomiting
* Balance problems or
dizziness
* Double or blurry
vision
* Sensitivity to
light or noise
* Feeling sluggish,
groggy or dazed
* Difficulty paying
attention
* Memory problems
* Confusion
* Numbness or
tingling
* Sleeping problems
* Mood changes
Prevention:
To protect your
child from head injuries, insist on appropriate and properly fitted protective
equipment - such as a helmet - during sports and other activities. However,
helmets and mouth guards don’t protect against all concussions. Also, make sure
your child knows that even a mild bump or blow to the head can cause a
concussion, and that concussions don’t always involve a loss of consciousness. Kids who sustain
concussions usually recover within a week or two without lasting health
problems by following certain precautions and taking a breather from sports.
Seek emergency care
for a child who experiences a head injury and:
* Vomiting
* A headache that
gets worse over time
* Changes in his or
her behavior, including irritability or fussiness
* Changes in physical
coordination, including stumbling or clumsiness
* Confusion or
disorientation
* Slurred speech or
other changes in speech
* Vision or eye
disturbances, including pupils that are bigger than normal (dilated pupils) or
pupils of unequal sizes
* Changes in
breathing pattern
* Lasting or
recurrent dizziness
* Blood or fluid
discharge from the nose or ears
* Large head bumps or
bruises on areas other than the forehead, especially in infants under 12 months
of age.
5. Sprains And
Strains:
First Aid:
* If the injury
involves your child’s neck or back, do not move him unless the child
is in imminent danger. Movement can cause serious nerve damage. Call for
emergency medical help. If your child must be moved, the neck and back must be
completely immobilized first. Keeping the head, neck, and back in alignment,
move your child as a unit.
* It may be difficult
to tell the difference between a sprain and a break. If there is any doubt
whatsoever, call your doctor or take your child to the nearest hospital
emergency department. An X-ray can determine whether a bone is broken.
* First aid for
sprains and strains includes rest, ice, compression, and elevation (known as
RICE).
+ Rest the
injured part of the body.
+ Apply ice packs
or cold compresses for up to 10 or 15 minutes at a time every few hours for the
first 2 days to prevent swelling.
+ Wearing an
elastic compression bandage for at least 2 days will reduce swelling.
+ Keep the injured
part elevated above the level of the heart as much as possible to
reduce swelling.
* Do not apply
heat in any form for at least 24 hours. Heat increases swelling and pain.
* Your doctor may
recommend an over-the-counter pain reliever such as acetaminophen or ibuprofen.
6. Broken Bones:
For a Suspected
Broken Bone:
* If the injury
involves your child’s neck or back, do not move him unless the child
is in imminent danger. Movement can cause serious nerve damage. Call for
emergency medical help. If your child must be moved, the neck and back must be
completely immobilized first. Keeping your child’s head, neck, and back in
alignment, move the child as a unit.
* If your child has
an open break (bone protrudes through the skin) and there is severe bleeding,
apply pressure on the bleeding area with a gauze pad or a clean piece of
clothing or other material. Do not wash the wound or try to push back any part
of the bone that may be sticking out.
* If your child must
be moved, apply splints around the injured limb to prevent further injury.
Leave the limb in the position you find it. The splints should be applied in
that position. Splints can be made by using boards, brooms, a stack of
newspapers, cardboard, or anything firm, and can be padded with pillows,
shirts, towels, or anything soft. Splints must be long enough to extend beyond
the joints above and below the fracture.
* Place cold packs or
a bag of ice wrapped in cloth on the injured area.
* Keep your child
lying down until medical help arrives.
~Admin~
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