As a parent of a student athlete, you are already aware of the benefits of sports. Student athletes are generally more physically fit, more socially engaged and more committed to staying in school. Involvement in high school sports can also mean experiencing certain risks. High School Athletes can face a variety of challenges due to their involvement in sports.
- 90 PERCENT of student athletes report some sort of sports-related injury in their athletic careers.
- 54 PERCENT of student athletes report they have played while injured.
- 37 PERCENT of high school athletes say they have experienced sprains.
- 12 PERCENT report they have sustained concussions and head injuries from their time on the field. In 2012 alone,
- 163,670 MIDDLE SCHOOL OR HIGH SCHOOL ATHLETES were reported being seen in the emergency room for a concussion.
So what can you do as a parent? Let your child know the statistics. Encourage your child to never play injured. Remind them no game is so important that it’s worth endangering a student athlete’s well-being. But the most important thing a parent can do is become an advocate for sports safety by ensuring that your student athlete has proper medical support during games and practice, supporting sports safety legislation and knowing the signs and symptoms of injury or illness. Athletic trainers are equipped to provide student athletes a multitude of services. Athletic trainers provide medical care and supervision during games and practice, and develop injury prevention programs to keep athletes healthy and on the field. Additionally, athletic trainers are able to assist with injury prevention education during practice and one-on-one time with athletes and through regular communication with parents.
Decatur County Memorial Hospital is proud to offer a Sports Medicine Program to all Decatur County high school athletes. They offer many components to their Sports Medicine Program such as: Orthopedic Surgery, Rehab Services, Athletic Trainers, Sports Physicals and Emergency Medical Services. For more information, visit dcmh.net or call 812-663-1119.