Keeping a Good Head on Their Shoulders
Traumatic brain injury is fairly common in children (1.4 million in the USA). At highest risk are children ages 0-4 years, followed by youth 15-19 years. For infants, the head is often the body's first point of contact, given its size compared to the rest of the body. Teens take the most risks. . . .
keep reading
|
Concussion Information Kit for Coaches
CDC's National Center for Injury Prevention, with the input of experts in the field, developed a tool kit for coaches titled, Heads Up: Concussion in High School Sports. The tool kit contains a Guide for Coaches on how to prevent concussions, identify symptoms, and take immediate action when an athlete has signs of a concussion. . . .
keep reading
|
The Bigger They Are, The Harder They Fall?
In the US, obesity is an epidemic problem. Also, injury causes more deaths than all other diseases combined (ages 1 through 44 years). Are these two epidemics separate entities? A disproportionately high number of injuries occur among economically-deprived children and minority children -- the same populations that are most likely to be obese. . . .
keep reading
|
Strength Training for Young Athletes?
Strength training in prepubescent children has often been discouraged because of concern for immature growth plates. However several studies have since demonstrated safety in a supervised setting with proper technique and safety precautions. . . .
keep reading
|
Sports and MRSA
Over one-third of healthy individuals carry staphylococcus aureus in their anterior nares. Staphylococcal infections are grouped into two categories, methicillin-sensitive and methicillin-resistant staphylococcus aureus (MRSA). . . .
keep reading
|
Prepare For Next Rage: Zip Lines at School
The incidence of zip line injuries has increased in the past few years in in-patient and out-patient settings. Most patients sustain upper extremity injuries and many require surgical intervention. Using trauma registry data and clinic records, it was found that in 2009, the number of children with zip line injuries was higher than the number from the previous three years, combined. . . .
keep reading
|
Playground Safety
Advocates of physical activity among children and youth consider perceived barriers and facilitators to increased physical activity. They often overlook specific injury prevention strategies when developing interventions. . . .
keep reading
|
Learn to Swim
Between 2000 through 2005, 6900 children younger than 20 years died of unintentional, non--boat-related drowning in the United States (a rate of 1.4 per 100,000 person-years, as compared to a rate of 2.7 for children under 5). . . .
keep reading
|
Kids and ATVs
All-terrain vehicles (ATVs) attract youth. But riding one, especially without a helmet, can risk serious injury. This report examined the Kids Inpatient Database (the only database that includes all sources of payment for US pediatric inpatient care) to create national estimates for children's hospitalizations due to ATV-related injuries and compare the rates in 1997 and 2006. . . .
keep reading
|
Is Hollywood Safe for our Youth?
Unintentional injuries are the leading cause of death among American children, accounting for more than one-third of childhood deaths (ages 1-14 years). Most are avoidable with safety belts, personal floatation devices in boats, and helmets when bicycling. Children often imitate what they see on television and films. . . .
keep reading
|
Injury Prevention: When is Supervision Adequate?
Child deaths related to injury exceed the next 9 causes of death combined. In the U.S. 33 children die daily from unintentional injuries. It's been proven that there are significantly lower levels of supervision for injured than uninjured children. . . .
keep reading
|
I Didn't Mean to Hurt Him
Intentional injury studies distinguish between self-inflicted and harm caused by others. However, across studies of unintentional injuries, only motor vehicle-related injury reports collect data about the people involved other than the injured parties. Perhaps knowing more about the risks and individuals who unintentionally injure others can inform the development of preventive strategies. . . .
keep reading
|
From P.E. to E.D.
Current guidelines call for increases in the amount of time students spend in moderate-to-vigorous activity when in PE. Increases in the activity level during PE may also increase the risk of injury. Utah public schools found that PE was the second greatest cause of school-related injuries, accounting for nearly one fourth of all injuries. . . .
keep reading
|
Evaluating Concussion Resources
The CDC's first concussion education resource, Heads Up: Concussion in High School Sports, is a tool kit for high school coaches. The kit includes a booklet, video/DVD, CD, parent and athlete fact sheets, posters, clipboard sticker, and wallet card. . . .
keep reading
|
Drug-induced Thrombocytopenia
While drug-induced thrombocytopenia (DITP) is not common, recent reports in children prompted discussion of this topic. Many drugs that have previously been linked with DITP in adults are administered to children, e.g., certain antibiotics, non-steroidal anti-inflammatory products, anti-seizure medications, and imipramine. . . .
keep reading
|
Concussion: Medical Community Cautions Schools on "Cognitive Rest"
A new policy statement from the American Academy of Pediatrics addresses the most recent research on sports-related concussion. A definition of concussion is highlighted: the rapid onset of short-lived neurological impairment that resolves spontaneously and that may result in long-term neuropathological changes. . . .
keep reading
|
But Will Students Buy Low-Fat Milk
This is the first published study estimating the resulting reductions in calories and fat after a policy change in a major school system. By the 2005-06 school year, the New York City (NYC) public school system had phased out whole milk products and limited flavored, sweetened milk to fat-free chocolate milk in all five NYC boroughs. . . .
keep reading
|
Backpacks and Back Pain
Backpacks have been documented to be typically loaded with 10% to 22% of a student's body weight and are carried by most students. Among children aged 11-14 years, 37% report back pain. Back pain is sometimes attributed to wearing a school backpack. But is blaming the backpack really valid? . . .
keep reading
|
|
