In a study done between 2002 and 2011, it was found that there is an increase in the number of children suffering from traumatic brain injuries, and many of these are linked to athletic kids.
One of the hospitals in the country was observed over a period of 9 years, and it was found that 15% of brain injuries that occurred to children were results of sports related activities. So what does this mean for parents and children out there?
The study finds that the average demographic of children who were admitted were males aged 10-16. Furthermore, the study did not actually see an increase in the number of children being admitted – but notes that the change was more on the reason why they were being admitted. The study finds that there was a 92% increase in the number of sports related cases, resulting in emergency situations.
We do know and are aware that child athlete injuries are almost unavoidable, but some experience more serious injuries such as concussions because of hard impact sustained by the head while playing. Therefore, educating the children is one of the most effective preventive actions that can be employed to try and avoid injuries from being sustained.
Furthermore, while the children who were admitted were treated for moderate to serious TBI or traumatic brain injury, their conditions improved over time and their injuries were not as severe as they originally were. Perhaps this is a positive outcome of the outcry of families whose children suffered the long term damage that is caused by the injury. Because of the overwhelming concern, better care was placed for children suffering from TBI to ensure that the condition improves and doesn’t worsen over time.
Thus, it is essential to teach the following to our children:
- Be careful, detail-oriented and vigilant when going through sports waivers. We do encourage our children to go to camp, a basketball clinic, or other training programs to help them enrich their athleticism and interpersonal relationships, we may end up getting worse than what we bargained for if they end up injured and the host of the event refrains from any responsibility. Even though you trust the establishment, make sure that you know and understand the contents of the waiver so that you can set expectations when it comes to the safety of your child
- Be proactive. Children can have the adrenaline rush while playing, making them immune to feel pain or discomfort if ever it is already present. Moreover, some kinds of injuries are not immediately apparent, so the coach or the trainer may not notice that something is already wrong. Teach and constantly remind your child to call out if he or she feels any pain, discomfort, and to not ‘tough it out’ in the event that it is already serious.
- Have your legal options open. Just as it isn’t uncommon to find injuries related to sports, the lawsuits about them aren’t unusual as well. However, at times filing a claim and bringing it to court may not always be the best course of action. It is ideal to consult first with your lawyer on what your next steps should be.
If you have been a victim of sports-related injuries as a result of another person’s negligence (or have a child who was victimized), then the Dallas child injury lawyers of Crowe, Arnold & Majors will be here to help you work out on the best plan of action so that you receive the compensation you deserve.
