Parents with children in team sports activities are careful to make sure their child has all the proper equipment and safety gear.  Protective gear will help prevent serious injury to bones, head, and prevent facial injuries but is that all we can do to protect our child?  Occasionally we hear of an athlete who dies while playing in his favorite sport.  Children are not free from sudden death or heatstroke while engaging in sports activities.  The important preventive measure for heatstroke or sudden death is a complete physical exam by a qualified doctor.  If a doctor gives approval for your child to enter team sports, you can reasonably trust their opinion.

There are precautions you can take to be sure your child is safe while taking part in team sports.  You can help prevent sudden death by taking a few simple steps and watching for contributing risks your child may have.  Some symptoms to watch for are:

Family history of premature death, disability because of a cardiovascular disease, or family history of cardio related problems or arrhythmias. 

Your child has a history of heart murmurs or high blood pressure in the past.

If they have had any symptoms of heart problems such as chest pain, shortness of breath, extreme tiredness, or fainting or near fainting episodes.

If your child has had any of these symptoms or an abnormal physical exam, they should be seen by a cardiac specialist for further testing that include a chest x-ray, echocardiogram, or EKG.

Other tips to keep your child safe are:

Be sure your child is taking part in a sport that has adult supervision.  That adult should be trained in preventing injury, first aid, and CPR.

If your child is in pain, don’t encourage them to play through it.  It is a sign your child needs medical attention.

Check out the playing surfaces your child will be using.  They should be properly maintained and teams should be using the safest gear suitable for that sport. 

Your child should be playing a team sport with children of their own age and size, especially when playing contact sports.

Last, teach your children about the dangers of taking dietary supplements to improve their performance.  Watch the news channel on any given day and you will hear about star athletes and their use of anabolic steroids.  Your child may think this is cool, especially if that athlete is your child’s role model.  There are dangers!  Your child should be discouraged from taking any dietary performance improving drugs.

Overheating and heatstroke are dangerous conditions that can affect athletes during the warm summer months of the year.  Heat exhaustion symptoms include muscle cramps, weakness, headache, nausea and vomiting, fainting, and paleness.  The pulse rate may be high but be weak.  The breathing may be fast and shallow.  Heat exhaustion can lead to heat strokes.  Heatstroke symptoms include a temperature of over 103 degrees, skin that is hot, red, and dry.  No sweating, dizziness, nausea, confusion, and unconsciousness.  Heatstroke left untreated could lead to death.

There are ways you can help your child avoid heat related illness while participating in sports activities.  Encourage your child to stay as cool as possible and well hydrated.  They should drink plenty of liquids; especially water even if they are not thirsty.  The recommendation is that children drink eight fluid ounces of water before taking part in the activity and the same amount every twenty minutes while playing or practicing.  Fluids to avoid are those with large amounts of sugar, carbonation, and caffeine.  Make sure your child is taking frequent breaks to allow the body to cool down and rest.  They should wear lightweight, loose-fitting, and light-colored clothing if possible.

Make sure your child is well supervised with an adult who has been trained in recognizing, preventing, and treating heat related illnesses.

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