Sports Safety
Sports Safety for Children and Teens
Staying active through sports and physical activity offers many benefits for children and teens, including physical fitness, confidence, and teamwork. Sports safety focuses on preventing injuries, recognizing warning signs, and helping young athletes stay healthy and active.
Why Sports Safety Matters
Injuries can happen in any sport, but many are preventable. Learning safe habits, using proper equipment, and recognizing symptoms early help reduce the risk of serious injury and long-term problems.
Common Sports Safety Topics
Important areas of sports safety include:
- Proper warm-up and stretching
- Hydration and heat illness prevention
- Use of appropriate protective equipment
- Injury prevention and early reporting
- Safe training and rest periods
- Concussion awareness
Concussion Awareness
Concussions are a type of brain injury that can occur during sports or physical activity. Symptoms may include headache, dizziness, nausea, confusion, sensitivity to light, or changes in behavior. Any athlete with a suspected concussion should stop playing immediately and be evaluated by a medical provider.
Hydration and Heat Safety
Staying hydrated is essential, especially during warm weather or intense activity:
- Encourage regular water breaks
- Watch for signs of heat exhaustion (dizziness, nausea, fatigue)
- Schedule practices during cooler parts of the day when possible
- Allow rest days and recovery time
What You Can Do at Home
Parents and caregivers can support sports safety by:
- Encouraging honest reporting of pain or symptoms
- Ensuring proper-fitting protective gear
- Supporting rest and recovery between activities
- Avoiding pressure to play through pain
- Keeping communication open with coaches
When to Call Us
Call our office if your child has:
- Head injury or concussion symptoms
- Persistent pain or swelling
- Limping or difficulty using a limb
- Recurrent injuries
- Questions about sports participation or clearanc
📞 Call (816) 792-1170 and select option 3 to reach nurse triage.
When to Seek Urgent or Emergency Care
Seek urgent or emergency care if your child has:
- Loss of consciousness
- Worsening headache or repeated vomiting
- Confusion or difficulty waking
- Severe injury or deformity
- Signs of heat stroke
How We Support Sports Safety
We help families support safe participation in sports through education, injury evaluation, and clearance guidance. Sports physicals and follow-up visits help ensure children are ready to participate safely.
Schedule an Appointment
If you have concerns about sports safety or your child’s participation, we’re here to help.
Request an Appointment through our online form, or call our nurse triage line for guidance.
