Falls are the most common type of physical injury requiring medical care. Younger children age 5 to 9 are most often injured on playgrounds. Children age 9 to 12 are most likely to be injured during organized sport.
To reduce your child’s risk of being injured while taking part in sports and recreation make sure they are in a safe environment, are wearing the proper protective gear and have developed the minimal skills necessary to participate safely in their chosen activity.
Don’t let your children do high-risk activities like jumping on trampolines because they could have a serious injury.
Safe Environments
Safe sport and recreation environments provide children with physical, emotional and psychological protection.
Physical protection means
- making sure ice surfaces and fields are kept in good playing condition, meet the
Canadian Paediatric Societies – Playground Safety, is free from hazards and has surfacing in good condition.. For more information on Playgrounds, take the
Playground YES Test.
- supervising your child. The level of supervision will depend on your child’s age and the activity they are doing.
- When your child participates in organized sports, an adult should have training in how to treat an injured child. Your child’s coach should know how to prevent and treat a concussion.
- Emotional and psychological protection is also very important for children participating in sport and recreation. Coaches should be skilled and positive role models who help your child learn new skills in a supportive and caring environment. Insist on knowing about your coach’s background before allowing your child to play on organized sport teams.
Protective Gear
Children who don’t wear or use protective equipment are at more risk for sport-related injury. Get the right gear for each sport, make sure it fits, and make sure children wear it properly every time they play. For information on which helmet for which activity,
click here.
Age-appropriate Activities and Training
Make sure that your child’s activities are appropriate for their age, physical ability, and thinking ability. Offer professional instruction, such as lessons for skating, skiing, or biking.
Are Home Trampolines Safe?
- Alberta Health Services and the Canadian Pediatric Society
don’t recommend buying or using trampolines at home (including cottages and summer residences) for children and youth.
- The risk of the trampoline is in the use of the trampoline. Parents may think that safety nets, most often sold with trampolines to prevent people from falling off, will reduce this risk, but in reality, fewer than 30% of trampoline injuries are caused by children falling off the trampoline.
