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Play It Forward - Sports Injury Prevention
Arnold Palmer Hospital is proud to be in partnership with Kohl's Sports Injury Education and Prevention Program. Our partner program, Play it Forward, is designed to meet the growing needs of active children in the Central Florida Community. Through the program Arnold Palmer Hospital sends sports medicine professionals into our community to instruct coaches, parents and children on safe training and playing techniques, how to decrease risk of injury and how to treat minor injuries. Learn more about the instruction and advice we share in our Play it Forward program below.To learn more about Play it Forward, or to request a presentation for your school, organization or sports group, email us at SportsMedicine@orlandohealth.com
- Stay hydrated! If you are thirsty, you are already dehydrated. To prevent dehydration, drink water or a sports drink before, during and after all athletic activities. Avoid soft drinks, coffee, tea and fruit juices. To determine if you have enough fluids in your body, check your urine. If it is a dark, cloudy yellow you need to drink more. You want your urine to be a pale, clear yellow.
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As we exert physical energy (such as in playing sports), our bodies must be able to release the heat that is generated. The body releases heat by sweating- the evaporation of liquid from the skin produces a cooling effect on the body. If the body is not properly hydrated, there is no fluid available for the body to sweat. The athlete then becomes unable to cool down their body temperature, and they are then at risk for heat exhaustion and heat stroke injuries.
Protect your children from the dangers of dehydration. Watch this video from our experts in the Sports Medicine Program at Arnold Palmer Hospital to find out more:
- Stretch! Stretching is a vital part of athletic participation. Dynamic stretching before activity prepares your body for training and prevents muscle injuries by reducing tightness and increasing elasticity. Static stretching after activity helps cool down and relax your body.
- Wear the right gear! Each sport has its own requirements for equipment and protective gear. Make sure everything fits properly. Poor fitting shoes can cause problems in your feet, shins, knees and back.
- Know your sport! Be sure to educate yourself in the fundamentals of your sport. Learn the proper techniques. It is okay to ask questions.
- Speak up! Nobody knows your body better than you. If something hurts or does not feel right, tell someone immediately.
- Eat right! As a car needs fuel to run, your body needs energy to function. Be sure to eat a well-balanced diet.
- Condition! It is important as an athlete to keep a high level of cardiovascular fitness, muscle strength, flexibility and endurance to perform your best. Be careful; there is such a thing as too much. Do not over train.
Hear what our experts have to say about head injuries & concussions:
- Every child should receive a physical exam by a primary care physician prior to athletic participation.
- Alert the coach to any medical problems and special equipment; e.g., mouth guard, protective glasses, rescue inhaler, EpiPen, etc.
- Take an active role in your child's safety. Know who is qualified to assist your child if an injury should occur.
- The coach is not the only one who should be CPR/First Aid certified. Contact your local Red Cross or American Heart Association for upcoming certification classes.
- Train your child to speak up if something does not feel right. Hiding pain increases the chances of an injury worsening.
- Check you child's equipment regularly. Replace or fix any faulty pieces immediately. Clean and disinfect, too.
- Clean and cover all wounds immediately. Use hydrogen peroxide for the first cleaning, then use soap and water.
- Keep any open wounds covered at all times during athletic activities. The staph infection MRSA is becoming very common in the athletic setting. The key to prevention is good hygiene. Shower after all events and do not share towels, razors, wash cloths, sponges, etc. Switch to liquid soap at the bathroom sink.
- Before practices or games, help the coach by walking the field looking for potential hazards.
If a minor injury occurs, follow P.R.I.C.E.S.
- PROTECT the injured area with padding if needed
- REST the injury
- ICE down the injured area
- COMPRESS with an Ace bandage to control swelling
- ELEVATE the injured area
- SUPPORT with braces or splints if needed
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| Recommended Supplies: - Hand sanitizer
- Gloves
- Band-Aids of all sizes
- Large gauze pads
- Antiseptic wound wash
- Antibiotic ointment/cream
- Scissors and tweezers
- Hydrocortisone cream
- Sunscreen and bug repellant
- Athletic tape
- Ziploc bags and garbage bags
- Instant cold packs
- Ace Bandages in several sizes
- Penlight/Flashlight
- Hydrogen peroxide
- Rubbing alcohol
- Safety pins
- Eye drops and saline eye wash
- Towel
- Acetaminophen/ibuprofen
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- Assign someone as crowd control; DO NOT let a crowd around the injured athlete.
- Develop an emergency action plan with the coach, support staff and fellow parents. Communication is the key.
- Know the location of the closest phone.
- Know where you are! 911 operators may not be able to pinpoint your exact location.
- Not all injuries are life threatening and, therefore, do not need the assistance of paramedics; e.g., nosebleed, broken nose, ankle sprain.
- Call 911 immediately if an athlete is unconscious, has difficulty breathing, stops breathing, is impaled by a foreign object, experiences loss of felling and/or movement, has a suspected neck/spinal cord injury or experiences dizziness, nausea, extreme headaches, disrupted vision and/or loss of memory after a blow to the head.
Arnold Palmer Hospital has partnered with @Kohl's Sports Injury Education and Prevention Program to offer Play it Forward, which is designed to meet the growing needs of active children in the Central Florida Community. Through the program Arnold Palmer Hospital sends sports medicine professionals into our community to instruct coaches, parents and children on safe training and playing techniques, how to decrease risk of injury and how to treat minor injuries.Sports injury prevention for kids - #playitforward.Arnold Palmer Hospital has partnered with @Kohl's Sports Injury Education and Prevention Program to offer Play it Forward, which is designed to meet the growing needs of active children in the Central Florida Community. Through the program Arnold Palmer Hospital sends sports medicine professionals into our community to instruct coaches, parents and children on safe training and playing techniques, how to decrease risk of injury and how to treat minor injuries.