Safe Kids Pennsylvania Presents Sports Safety Event

Aims to reach coaches, parents and league organizers with important information to prevent sports-related injuries

CAMP HILL, Pa., Aug. 10 /PRNewswire-USNewswire/ -- As youth across the mid-state begin practicing for fall sports, Safe Kids Pennsylvania urges coaches, parents and league organizers to attend a free youth sports safety event August 11 from 7 p.m. to 8 p.m. at the Carlisle Family YWCA. The event, developed in partnership with National Athletic Trainer's Association and athletic trainers from Dickinson College, will provide critical information to keep Pennsylvania's children from sustaining sports-related injuries.

"More than 30 million children participate in sports each year in the United States. Of those 30 million, approximately 3.5 million children under the age of 14 are treated for sports-related injuries in hospitals, clinics and emergency rooms," said Allyson Fulton, Safe Kids Pennsylvania manager.

The safety event will cover four components critical to keeping young athletes healthy and injury-free: preventing acute and overuse injuries, proper hydration before, during and after play, annual pre-season medical screenings for each athlete and finally, concussion awareness, prevention and screening methods. The event is free and open to the public.

"Children ages 5 to 14 account for nearly 40 percent of all sports-related injuries treated in hospital emergency departments," Fulton added. "Our goal is to reach coaches and parents through these clinics and equip them with the critical information and resources to keep kids out of the emergency room."

Safe Kids Pennsylvania was selected as one of 20 coalitions across the country to receive funding for youth sports safety clinics as part of Safe Kids USA's new Safe Sports initiative, supported by founding sponsor Johnson & Johnson.

Here are six important sports safety tips from Safe Kids Pennsylvania that all coaches, parents and league organizers can use to prevent sports-related injuries:

• Pre-Season Medical Screening: Every child should receive an annual pre-participation physical evaluation (PPE). These exams may prevent or treat any underlying conditions the young athlete may have.
• Safety gear: To prevent acute injuries, children playing sports should have access to and consistently use well-maintained safety equipment during both practices and games.
• Qualified coaching: Athletic coaches should be trained in both first aid and CPR, have a plan for responding to emergencies and have current knowledge of both safety rules and proper equipment use. Sports programs with certified Athletic Trainers on staff are ideal because they are trained to prevent or provide immediate care for athletic injuries.
• Proper Conditioning: To prevent acute and overuse injuries, coaches should teach young athletes proper routines for both warm-ups and cool-downs before and after practice and play. Sixty-two percent of sports-related injuries occur during practice rather than in a game.
• Hydration: Athletes should be encouraged to drink water before, during and after practice and competition.
• Rest: If young athletes are very tired or in pain, coaches and parents should encourage them to rest, not to play, as this valuable recovery time can help prevent acute and overuse injuries.

Story and Photo Opportunity – August 11; 7 p.m.-8 p.m.; Carlisle

Safe Kids Pennsylvania is offering a free sports safety event on Wednesday, August 11 at the Carlisle Family YMCA at 311 South West Street in Carlisle from 7:00 p.m. to 8:00 p.m. Injury prevention experts, athletic trainers, parents and coaches will be available for interviews.

For more information on Safe Kids Pennsylvania's sports safety clinics or sports injury prevention in general, visit www.pasafekids.org or www.safekids.org/sports.

About Safe Kids Pennsylvania

Safe Kids Pennsylvania works to prevent unintentional childhood injury, the leading cause of death and disability to children ages 1 to 14. Safe Kids Pennsylvania is a member of Safe Kids Worldwide, a global network of organizations dedicated to preventing unintentional injury. Safe Kids is led by Center for Schools and Communities.

CONTACT: Aylissa Kiely Tyndale of Safe Kids Pennsylvania, 717-903-0219 (c) or 717-763-1661 x117 (o)

SOURCE Safe Kids Pennsylvania