According to the Department of Health and Human Services (HHS), every year, nearly 2 million people suffer injuries caused by sports activities and seek treatment in hospital emergency departments across the United States. The cost of these treatments can range from $2,294 for a sprain to $7,666 for a fractured arm. According to the American Academy of Pediatrics (AAP) and Safe Kids Worldwide, more than 3.5 million children aged 14 and under are treated for sports-related injuries each year. 62% of injuries sustained in organized sports occur during practice as opposed to during a game. Roughly 33% of parents do not take the same safety precautions during practice as they do for a game. Statistics also show that coaches and organizations do not take injuries during practice as seriously as during games.
How to Prevent Sports Injuries
It is not only professional athletes that are affected by sports injuries. Millions of people across the United States participate in summer sports – this is a great time to be outdoors and get active. These activities can range from swimming to kayaking and water-skiing to volleyball and rock climbing. These are exciting sports that are fun for all ages, but they also come with many risks that may lead to serious injuries. Injured professional athletes are normally paid while they recover from their on-the-field injuries, but the rest of us have to contend with high medical bills, missed days at work and painful recovery. It is important to make sure that you follow certain safety tips to prevent injuries, including:
- Always wear a helmet – You should always wear a helmet that fits properly when participating in any sports activities. It is a fact that wearing a helmet when skateboarding, biking and riding an ATV is one of the most effective ways to prevent a brain injury. You should also replace your helmet after a crash as some are designed to withstand only one impact while others can withstand more, depending on the severity of the crash.
- Stay alert and be familiar with your surroundings – You should make sure that you scope out the terrain before you start mountain biking, hiking or climbing. For kayaking or white-water canoeing, make sure that you are well-prepared for the rapid levels and other water conditions. Stay alert and avoid distractions. You should also make sure that if you are at a camp, the management has taken the necessary precautions to ensure the safety of all visitors.
- Know your limitations – If you are engaging in a sport like water-skiing, rock climbing, or white-water kayaking, make sure that you take lessons from a trained and licensed expert. You should also use all recommended safety equipment. Learn the basics and start slowly. You should know your limitations and make sure that children do too. Make sure that children have adult supervision. Also, remember that everyone – adults and children – should wear life-jackets when they are on the water.
If you or a loved one sustained a sports injury due to the negligence or recklessness of another person or organization, you should immediately seek the help of the experienced personal injury attorneys at Rosenberg, Minc, Falkoff, & Wolff of RMFW Law at 212-344-1000. We know how to win cases. We have been winning cases for years. It is what we do. The first meet is free. What do you have to say? What really happened? If you have a viable case we will carry that legal baton all the way to the finish line.
