When it comes to fatalities, skiing is no more dangerous than riding a bike.
In the United States, 300,000 to 600,000 deaths occur every year because of inactivity and poor dietary habits while statistics from the National Ski Areas Association's (NSAA) (US) say that 39.8 skiers and snowboarders die every year on the slopes. In Canada, about 21,000 annual deaths are attributed to inactivity.
Skiers do sustain injuries but researchers from the University of Vermont say that injuries have decreased 55 per cent over the past 34 years. Although skiing too fast is the primary cause of injuries, poor visibility, a lack of fresh snow, new equipment and alcohol consumption are also causes of accidents. Knee injuries are the most common, and experts say that learning how to fall to reduce stress on the knee can help reduce the risk.
Keep your feet together, knees slightly bent, chin tucked into the chest and both arms in front of the body if you feel yourself losing control on the hill. And stay down once you've fallen, rather than trying to get back up while still sliding.
Wearing a helmet while skiing is also highly recommended.
Jill Barker, Canwest News Service, Calgary Herald, Jan 12.
RBC Foundation funding helps swimming safety tips reach more Ontarians
TORONTO, Nov. 12 /CNW/ - The
Lifesaving Society has partnered with RBC to translate important
drowning prevention information into 26 additional languages in an
effort to reach out to new immigrant parents in Ontario. The charitable
organization is now offering important details about Swim to Survive,
the children's drowning prevention program, in multiple languages,
including: Chinese, Hindu, Italian, Punjabi, Urdu, Russian and
Portuguese.
The massive translation project is part of the Lifesaving Society's
ongoing commitment to teach all children about the importance of water
safety and drowning prevention skills. The translated information
package includes a letter explaining the Swim to Survive program during
school time, a handout explaining why all children should learn basic
survival swimming skills and a letter at the end of the program
detailing what the children have learned and the importance of
enrolling their children in additional swimming instruction. It is
directed to parents and guardians, and until now, had only been
available in English and French.
Barbara Byers, Public Education Director for the
Lifesaving Society, says it was critical to reach out to new Canadians
who don't use English or French as their primary language.
"We know that more than 125,000 newcomers immigrate to Ontario each
year," Byers states. "It was essential that we reach Ontarians in
multiple languages about programs offered for drowning prevention, to
ensure that the growing immigrant population, many of whom may have
little knowledge or experience with recreational swimming and water
safety, have the tools to help safeguard their children."
The translation efforts would not have been possible without a recent $18,000
grant from the RBC Foundation, which allowed the Lifesaving Society to
convert the Swim to Survive parent information package into the
following languages: Arabic; Chinese; Czech; Farsi; Greek; Gujarati;
Hindi; Hungarian; Italian; Khmer; Korean; Macedonian; Pashto; Polish;
Portuguese; Punjabi; Romanian; Russian; Somali; Spanish; Tagalog;
Tamil; Twi; Ukrainian; Urdu and Vietnamese.
"RBC has a long-standing commitment to diversity, welcoming new
Canadians and doing our part to enable their success," said Tony
DePascal, RBC's Vice President, Commercial Financial Services - Peel
Supply Chain. "From financial advice to safety information, RBC knows
it is important to remove language barriers and ensure equal access to
information. We welcome this opportunity to support Canada's diverse
communities by helping the Lifesaving Society to ensure this crucial
safety information is fully accessible to all."
According to Byers, access to Swim to Survive is especially significant for new Canadians living in Ontario.
"Ontario has the most culturally diverse population in Canada,
with more than one in four residents born outside the country. Because
this province has an abundance of fresh water, swimming lessons and
drowning prevention techniques are especially important here."
The Swim to Survive program is funded by The Ministry of Education
and other partners, and launched in 2005. Through elementary schools,
it teaches children in Grade 3 the minimum standard of swimming ability
for survival after an unexpected fall into the water. Since it began,
more than 200,000 children have completed the program.
Swim to Survive teaches children three basic skills in sequence:
roll into deep water; tread water for one minute; and swim 50 metres
(Lifesaving statistics show that most people who drown are less than 15
metres from shore or safety). It is not meant as a replacement for
standard swimming lessons, however the program is an important first
step to being safe around water, and could make the difference between
life and death when immersion in water is sudden and unexpected.
According to the 2009 Ontario Drowning Report Update, released in
the summer by the Lifesaving Society, nearly 500 Canadians die each
year in water-related incidents. The number of water-related death in
Ontario is on the rise. In Ontario in 2005 (most recent statistics),
there were 164 deaths, or 33 per cent of the national total. There were
492 deaths by drowning in Canada in 2005, a 14 per cent increase over 2004. Ontario led the way with a 24 per cent increase.
About RBC
RBC believes in building prosperity by contributing to the communities
in which we live and work. As one of Canada's largest corporate donors,
RBC supports a broad range of community initiatives, through donations,
sponsorships and employee volunteer activities. RBC contributed $99 million to community causes worldwide in 2008, through donations of more than $51.5 million, and an additional $47.5 million in sponsorship of community events.
About the 2009 Drowning Report Update The Drowning Report information is sourced from the Lifesaving Society
and the Chief Coroner's Office, Ontario Ministry of the Solicitor
General. *2009 results showcase 2005 figures, which is the most recent
year for which data is available.
About The Lifesaving Society
The Lifesaving Society, Canada's lifeguarding experts, is a
charitable organization working to prevent drowning and water-related
injury through its training programs, Water Smart(R) public education
and safety management services. Each year in Canada,
more than half a million people participate in the Society's swimming,
lifesaving, lifeguarding and leadership courses. For more information,
please visit www.lifesavingsociety.com.
About The Lifesaving Foundation
The Lifesaving Foundation supports the Lifesaving Society's drowning prevention efforts across Canada with project grants. The Lifesaving Foundation is pleased to support this Swim to Survive initiative.
Dr. Charles Tator, a leading neurosurgeon at the Toronto Western Hospital, is pleased to report the findings of his new study in the Clinical Journal of Sports Medicine, showing that spinal cord injuries in hockey have significantly decreased. It also showed that 90 per cent of hockey's spinal injuries occurred during organized league games, including the NHL.
He credits the decrease to initiatives such as the STOP program in minor hockey, which has seen 400,000 STOP patches sewn on to the backs of jerseys worn by amateur players across throughout North America. The patches are intended to remind players not to hit from behind - the most frequent cause of catastrophic injuries. Dr. Tator says the program has resulted in a fundamental attitude change among hockey players at all levels - including the NHL.
The most common mistake of people who want to get fit is to do too much too soon, often resulting in injury. Here are some tips for people of all fitness levels to avoid that mistake:
Get professional advice before you start - from your doctor, a physiotherapist, a personal trainer
For cardio workouts follow the 10% rule: don't increase your volume or time by than more 10% increments
Take 2 rest days each week so you have a break from exercise
Listen to your body and be aware of the difference between discomfort and pain. Pain persists after you stop the activity and you should seek professional help for it.
As participation soars on cheer teams in North America, injuries are also on the rise for a sport that has been transformed into a wildly popular rough and tumble trapeze show. Much of the popularity is due to the introduction of private club teams and all-star squads.
At the University of North Carolina, the National Center for Catastrophic Sport Injury Research recently reported there have been 112 catastrophic injuries to high school girls in the United States over the last 26 years, 65 per cent of which happened in cheerleading. Canadian sources say that these statistics are not kept in Canada, and are unaware of any such injuries in this country in the last 25 years.
To ensure safety of participants a number of safeguards should be in place:
New jumps and stunts should be practised over and over on mats and trampolines before anyone is airborne
Stunts should be worked on at the start of practice and not the end, when athletes are tired
Pyramids can't be more than two-high.
No inverted stunts.
Anyone with a bump or bruise to the head, neck or back should be referred to the hospital
Parents are urged to check the coach's credentials, visit the gym, ask about the training regimen, and make sure the mats are good quality
W. CONSHOHOCKEN, Pa., 14 July 2009-The popularity of water-based amusement parks continues to grow throughout the world, and this growth has led to an emerging need for standards for the aquatic play equipment industry. ASTM International Committee F24 on Amusement Rides and Devices answers this need with a newly approved standard, ASTM F2461, Practice for Manufacture, Construction, Operation and Maintenance of Aquatic Play Equipment.
ASTM F2461 was developed by Subcommittee F24.70 on Water Related Amusement Rides and Devices. Andreas Tanzer, chair of F24.70, and director - innovation, research and standards, ProSlide Technology Inc., says the new standard will provide inspectors and state officials with a single source of information that can be applied uniformly among the many methods of aquatic play equipment manufacture.
"A common practice was necessary to ensure that a minimum best practice was established based on the industry's use of aquatic play equipment," says Tanzer. "The creation of this standard allows the common use of terms, methods and practices to be compiled into a one-stop location.
"Tanzer says that ASTM F2461 will provide information and methods for park operators as they install aquatic play structures. "End users will be assured that there is a means of manufacturing, testing and operation of these structures," says Tanzer.
The subcommittee will continue ongoing work on ASTM F2461 and welcomes participation in its standards developing activities. "There are currently two task groups that exist to further the research on water impact from aquatic play devices as well as water quality," says Tanzer. "There is work to be done to integrate other standards that are being or have been developed to further complement ASTM F2461."
"We would like to have more manufacturers of aquatic play equipment directly involved during the semiannual meetings, as well as our virtual meetings," says Tanzer. "This direct input allows the subcommittee to accelerate the process of getting to the heart of matters concerning aquatic play structures. Users of aquatic parks are another group that can bring forth real life situations that can help to mold and solidify the content of the standard."
In addition to ASTM F2461, Subcommittee F24.70 has developed ASTM F2376, Practice for Classification, Design, Manufacture, Construction and Operation of Water Slide Systems.
ASTM International standards are available for purchase from Customer Service (phone: 610-832-9585; service@astm.org) or at www.astm.org.
For technical information, contact Andreas Tanzer, ProSlide Technology Inc., Ottawa, Ontario, Canada (phone: 613-526-5522; andreast@proslide.com).
ASTM Committee F24 meets on Oct. 15-17 in Toronto, Ontario, Canada.ASTM International welcomes and encourages participation in the development of its standards. ASTM's open consensus process, using advanced Internet-based standards development tools, ensures worldwide access for all interested individuals. For more information on becoming an ASTM member, please contact Leonard Morrissey, ASTM International (phone: 610-832-9719; lmorriss@astm.org).Established in 1898, ASTM International is one of the largest international standards development and delivery systems in the world. ASTM International meets the World Trade Organization (WTO) principles for the development of international standards: coherence, consensus, development dimension, effectiveness, impartiality, openness, relevance and transparency. ASTM standards are accepted and used in research and development, product testing, quality systems and commercial transactions around the globe.
Red Cross drowning report provides insight into almost 2,000 preventable tragedies on Canadian waters
OTTAWA, July 2 /CNW Telbec/ - In two newly released 10-year drowning trend reports, the Canadian Red Cross reveals boating-related fatalities represent 39 per cent of drowning victims and alcohol was present or suspected in at least 50 per cent of boating drownings.
The Canadian Red Cross has released the final two modules in their five-part series analyzing 10 years of drowning research in Canada: Module 3: Boating & Powerboats and Module 4: Unpowered Boating. The final modules indicate that nearly 2,000 boating deaths might have been prevented had basic boating safety measures been taken, such as wearing a lifejacket.
"There are no accidents. These deaths were preventable," says Shelley Dalke, national coordinator for Canadian Red Cross swimming and water safety programs. "Far too often people fail to account for the risks associated with boating. They load their boat with alcohol and either forget to bring a lifejacket, or use it as a cushion. The research shows that non-swimmers and weak swimmers were even less likely than other victims to correctly wear a lifejacket."
Unpowered boating fatalities account for 36 per cent of all boating deaths, with males aged 15-24 at greatest risk. For unpowered boating, such as kayaking or canoeing, environmental factors, such as currents or unexpected waves are a threat. For power-boating accidents, males between the ages of 25-74 are at greatest risk with 91 per cent of victims failing to wear a lifejacket.
The Canadian Red Cross encourages all boaters to make wise choices before heading out on the water. Choose to leave the alcohol on shore, wear your lifejacket and plan to return to shore while it is still safe to do so. For more information, visit www.redcross.ca/drownings.
The Canadian Red Cross is a leader in water safety in Canada, with more than 60 years of experience in training Canadians to be safe in, on and around the water. The Canadian Red Cross is a member of the International Red Cross and Red Crescent Movement, which includes the International Federation of Red Cross and Red Crescent Societies, the International Committee of the Red Cross and 187 national Red Cross and Red Crescent Societies. Our mission is to improve the lives of vulnerable people by mobilizing the power of humanity in Canada and around the world.
For further information: Media contact: Contact local Red Cross Public Affairs staff Or, call the Red Cross 24 hour media line: (613) 740-1994
TORONTO, June 25 /CNW/ - School's out for the summer and that means it's time to play for hundreds of thousands of Canadian children. All that extra activity also means they may be at increased risk for injury. The Canadian Hospitals Injury Reporting and Prevention Program say injuries are the most significant threat to the health of Canadian children. Whether it is team sports like baseball and soccer, or more risky activities like skateboarding or mountain biking, the Canadian Physiotherapy Association is calling on parents to be more proactive in preventing injuries in children.
"Parents need to act as the coach," says Mike Yates, BSc, BScPT, a veteran sport physiotherapist and coordinator of a teen injury prevention program in Penticton, B.C. "They need to ensure their children have the equipment, nutrition, and hydration to play safely. Children should wear helmets for cycling and skateboarding, wear footwear that matches the sport and playing surface, eat a carbohydrate based athlete's diet with minimal pop and junk food, and drink 8 ounces of water every 20 minutes in hot conditions", says Yates.
Yates adds that there are many other things parents can encourage their children to do that will help minimize the risk of injuries including:
Training and conditioning (cardiovascular, muscle strength, balance)
Dynamic stretching before an activity, static stretching after activity
Practicing techniques and skills (landing a jump, cutting and pivoting)
Rest and recovery after activity (rehydrating, re-nourishing, stretch and cool down)
Carolyn Emery, BScPT, PhD, a physiotherapist at the University of Calgary Sport Medicine Centre has done research that shows neuromuscular training helps reduce the risk of kids getting hurt. Emery stresses that injuries are not just a temporary problem; having one injury increases the chances of developing other injuries.
"Children and adolescents are developing osteoarthritis 10-15 years after some injuries, specifically major knee ligament and cartilage injuries," saysEmery. "Parents can help prevent this by ensuring appropriate warm-up programs are followed. There is evidence that neuromuscular warm-up activities including balance, technical and strengthening components will significantly reduce the risk of lower extremity injuries in sports such as soccer and basketball," adds Emery. "A pre-participation examination by a physiotherapist working in sports medicine is encouraged. Such an assessment can facilitate the identification of individual risk factors for participation in some sports, particularly if the child/adolescent has prior history of injury."
Parents may also want to consider getting their children involved in sport therapy groups where health care professionals such as physiotherapists are involved in injury prevention training programs. Inquire with local sport groups, or at health clubs with certified fitness trainers. It is not too lateto get your child in summer shape so that they avoid injuries and foster healthy activity habits that will follow them into adulthood.
For further information: and spokesperson interview in English or French: Virginia Bawlf, National Media Relations Officer, (416) 932-1888(x222), (647) 379-4145 (cell), vbawlf@physiotherapy.ca
The American Academy of Orthopedic Surgeons says that baby boomers have become increasingly active as they age, a trend that is expected to continue, but the rate if injuries is climbing as well.
The Academy reminds boomers that they will injure more easily than they did in their 20's and offers the following tips to avoid injuries:
Consult a doctor before beginning any exercise program.
Exercising moderately every day. This is less likely to result in injury than intense weekend activity.
Take lessons. Instruction helps ensure proper form which can prevent overuse injuries.
Take calcium and Vitamin D supplements daily.
Remember to rest and schedule regular days off from exercise.
Ontarians earn a "C" average, room for improvement
TORONTO, June 23 /CNW/ - A resounding 81 per cent of Ontarians plan toparticipate in water-based activities this summer. Yet, according to a reportcard released today by the Lifesaving Society, Ontario residents are not getting straight "A"s when it comes to knowing how to keep children safe at the lake, beach or pool. The first-ever report card on water safety and drowning prevention was developed from results of a June 2009 Angus Reid Strategies poll that was commissioned by the Lifesaving Society, a charitable organization working to prevent drowning.
Overall, the Lifesaving Society gives a "C" grade to Ontarians for having an average of 60 per cent in water safety knowledge. But the LifesavingSociety says an "A+" is needed to ensure we are vigilant in preventing drowning deaths.
"When it comes to water safety and drowning prevention knowledge, Ontarioscores really well on some issues," says Barbara Byers, Public Education Director for the Lifesaving Society. "However, the results of this report card show that there is still a lot that can be learned to keep children safe inand around water."
Report card on water safety and drowning prevention: ------------------------------------------------------------------------- Ontario adults who: -Score-Grade ------------------------------------------------------------------------- Think an adult should be within 2 feet of a child under the age of five when near water - 43%-F ------------------------------------------------------------------------- Think that water wings, arm floaties and inflatable rings or tubes are effective flotation devices for young children -33%- F ------------------------------------------------------------------------- Believe that when someone is drowning they will wave their arms around, make lots of noise and splash water - 32%- F ------------------------------------------------------------------------- Understand that drowning is often silent - 62% - C ------------------------------------------------------------------------- Enrolled their child (children) in formal swimming lessons -80% - A ------------------------------------------------------------------------- Believe that a lifejacket will keep a child under the age of five safe in the water - 85% - A ------------------------------------------------------------------------- Think that the best method for restricting children's access to a backyard pool is a four-sided fence - 82% - A ------------------------------------------------------------------------- The grades are based on the proportion of respondents who agree or disagree with a specific action that is deemed in the best interest of safety. A higher incidence of respondents who agree with a safe action leads to a better grade.
Stay 'within arms' reach' According to the Society, one of Ontario's worst grades on the reportcard is an "F," for not knowing how close an adult should be to a child underthe age of five when they're in or near the water. In fact, only 43 per centof Ontarians know that they should be within two feet of a child five or under when near water.
Byers says if you're not 'within arms' reach' of your child, you've gone too far. "The reality is that drowning can happen very quickly, in as little as 10 seconds. Yet, the report card shows that more than half (52 per cent) of respondents would not be close enough to save a young child if they were drowning. Anything further away than two feet is not 'within arms' reach' andit is simply not safe."
Drowning is silent Another water safety area where Ontarians need improvement is in recognizing the signs of drowning. Only 62 per cent of residents realize that drowning is often silent; 32 per cent believe drowning victims will wave their arms around, make lots of noise and splash water. Drowning can take place in as little as 10 seconds and is a silent killer. It can occur in just inches of water, such as a bathtub or wading pool. The Lifesaving Society stresses that parents never leave their children alone near water because they may not hear a child who is in the process ofdrowning.
Lifejackets and swimming lessons save lives Ontario residents did earn an "A" grade as 85 per cent of respondents choose a lifejacket as an effective device to keep a young child safe in the water. However, the Lifesaving Society says that despite this knowledge, still one in three (33 per cent) deemed water wings, arm floaties and inflatable rings or tubes as effective flotation devices for young children, which theyare not. "A lifejacket is absolutely the best and only flotation device thatshould be used to keep young children safe when they are in or around water. The lifejacket will bring the child into the upright position should they fall into water face first whereas water wings or inflatable rings or tubes will not," says Byers. "And, it's important to stress that everyone should wear a lifejacket when they are boating or waterskiing." The Lifesaving Society is pleased to see that 80 per cent of Ontario parents say that their children have participated in swimming lessons, earning them another "A". "We're encouraged to see an increase in enrollment," says Byers. That's up from approximately 40 per cent nine years ago (according to astudy conducted by the Society in 2000). Byers adds that the significant riselikely reflects the fact that more than 160,000 children have completed theSociety's 'Swim to Survive' program in the past three years. "We have made tremendous strides in the past several years with 'Swim toSurvive,' but it's important to remember that drowning remains one of the leading causes of death among children, and our efforts to educate and teachneed to continue until that is no longer the case. Our goal is to teach 'Swim to Survive' to every child before he/she graduates elementary school."
Restricting children's access to a backyard pool Eighty-two (82) per cent say a four-sided fence is the best way to restrict access to a backyard pool. According to Byers, she is delighted to see such a high grade among Ontarians for knowing how to best secure a backyard pool. "Every municipality has their own bylaw on fencing pools, and all of them, except Toronto, require that backyard pools be fenced on three sides,with the fourth side being the house. However, the reality is that most toddlers drown in backyard pools, and most children who drown in backyard pools gain access from the house. The Lifesaving Society, along with most Ontarians, agrees with the City of Toronto's approach. Toronto is at the forefront, and has the only bylaw in North America which requires that all four sides of a pool to be fenced." In Canada, drowning is the second leading cause of preventable death for children under 10 years of age. According to the 2009 Ontario Drowning Report Update, released by the Lifesaving Society, nearly 500 Canadians die each year in water-related incidents. The number of water-related deaths in Ontario is on the rise. In Ontario in 2005(*), there were 164 deaths, or 33 per cent of the national total. There were 132 drowning deaths in Ontario in 2004, and 128 in 2003.
About the survey From June 4 to June 8, 2009, Angus Reid Strategies conducted an online survey among a randomly selected, representative sample of 801 adult Ontarians. The margin of error for the total sample is +/- 3.46%, 19 times out of 20. The results have been statistically weighted according to Statistics Canada's most current education, age, gender and region Census data to ensure a representative sample of the entire adult population of Canada. Discrepancies in or between totals are due to rounding.
About the 2009 Drowning Report Update The Drowning Report information is sourced from the Lifesaving Society and the Chief Coroner's Office, Ontario Ministry of the Solicitor General.(*)2009 results showcase 2005 figures, which is the most recent year for which data is available.
About The Lifesaving Society The Lifesaving Society, Canada's lifeguarding experts, is a charitable organization working to prevent drowning and water-related injury through itstraining programs, Water Smart(R) public education and safety managementservices. Each year in Canada, more than half a million people participate inthe Society's swim, lifesaving, lifeguarding and leadership courses.
Lee Bowman wrote an article in the Daily Gleaner, June 18, 2009, about a concensus of the recent international conference on concussions from sports injuries. The experts who gathered defined concussion as " any alteration to mental status resulting from the brain being jolted inside the skull due to a blow to the head or upper body." Symptoms can include amnesia, dizziness, confusion, headache and loss of consciousness. Later symptoms can include dizziness, sleep problems, irritability and concentration problems, and depression.
Researchers report that the brains of children and adolescents take longer to recover than most adults and that both physical activity and mental effort should be restricted. Those who engaged in moderate activity - attended school and did homework, along with limited physical activity such as chores - had the best recovery, based on tests of memory, reaction time and other cognitive checks, better even than those who were less active. Those who engaged in any greater levels of activity - practice or play - scored much worse.
This information is the basis for new protocols published in The British Journal of Sports Medicine calling "cognitive rest" that may include limits on schoolwork as well as activities such as texting, video games and TV watching, while still recognizing that the brain needs some stimulation.
For access to the proceedings of the Conference on Concussion in Sport in the British Journal of Sport Medicine please click here.
OTTAWA, June 1 /CNW Telbec/ - The Ontario Trial Lawyers Association (OTLA), an organization committed to justice and advocacy on behalf of injured persons, announced today that it will distribute almost 300 bicycle helmets to students attending schools in both the Ottawa-Carleton District School Board and the Ottawa Catholic School Board. The Helmets on Kids initiative has been running annually in London, Ontario for many years. Following up on that success, OTLA is expanding the initiative across the province last year, including to the Ottawa area. In its second year locally, lawyers and law firms in Ottawa who are members of OTLA , have donated $2,500 to the Helmets on Kids campaign, allowing OTLA to purchase about 300 helmets for distribution to elementary school students. The campaign is also being supported locally by a number of community partners including the Head Injury Association of the Ottawa Valley, Ottawa Public Health, Plan-it-Safe (CHEO), the Ottawa Safety Council, Safe Communities Ottawa, Citizens for Safe Cycling, ThinkFirst, and the Vista Centre. In a press release dated August 30, 2006, the Canadian Institute for Health Information reported that, in 2003-2004, the "highest proportion of hospitalizations due to cycling-related head injuries was seen in children and youth (60%)," stating that, "cycling is one of the leading causes of sports and recreation-related head injury." "The majority of head injuries in children can be prevented by wearing a properly fitted bicycle helmet during cycling," said Dr. Michael Vassilyadi, a pediatric neurosurgeon at CHEO and Ottawa Chapter Director for ThinkFirst Canada. Dr. Vassilyadi, who sees firsthand the devastating outcomes when children, not wearing helmets, are injured in bicycle accidents, pointed out that, "every year there are hundreds of head injuries in Canada, with some of them resulting in death. Of the survivors, there are a variety of injury levels that have an altering factor, not only to the injured individual, but also to the family and community at large. Wearing a bicycle helmet is the single most important way to protect the brain. This is especially important in children where the brain continues to develop. Once a traumatic brain injury occurs, there may be long-term, irreversible sequela." "Helmet use is key to injury prevention. In a city like Ottawa, with all the opportunities for outdoor activity, we wanted to help ensure that children are wearing their helmets when participating in activities such as cycling, rollerblading and skateboarding," said Laurie Tucker, an Ottawa personal injury lawyer and organizer of the OTLA initiative in Ottawa. Lawyers and law clerks who are members of OTLA will distribute the more almost 300 helmets to students at 4 schools on June 5th and 8th. Ms Tucker said, "Each time we go to a school to distribute the helmets, we spend time talking to the students about helmet safety and proper fitting. When we can, we make the presentation to the entire school and we always leave the principal with a video on helmet safety." OTLA gratefully recognizes the generosity of the following law firms and individual lawyers who donated funds to the 2009 initiative: Burn Tucker, the Personal Injury Group of Doucet McBride LLP Burke Robertson LLP Tierney Stauffer LLP Laurie Tucker David Hollingsworth Christine M. La Casse Eliane Lachaine Colleen L. Burn For further information: about this initiative in your community, please contact Laurie Tucker at (613) 233-4474 or ltucker@doucetmcbride.com.
Research calls for better preventative and educational strategies to prevent serious health consequences like those seen in some NHL stars TORONTO, Ont., May 27, 2009 — When Chicago Blackhawk's leading scorer Martin Havlat returned to the ice for game four of the Western Conference Final after sustaining a concussion only two days earlier, questions were raised surrounding his swift return. According to a new study by St. Michael's Hospital neurosurgeon Dr. Michael Cusimano, similar questions were raised by 25% of minor league hockey players who did not know if an athlete with symptoms of a concussion should continue to play hockey. Nearly a majority of these players were also unable to identify a concussion or its related symptoms. The findings are part of a study by Dr. Cusimano that analyzed the concussion knowledge of 142 adults (coaches, trainers and parents) and 267 players from GTA Atom (10-years-old), Bantam (14-years-old), AA (highly competitive) and house league divisions. The study is published in the May edition of the Canadian Journal of Neurological Sciences. "Serious misconceptions exist among minor league hockey players, athletes, coaches and parents when it comes to understanding the signs and symptoms of a concussion and its treatment,” said Dr. Cusimano, a professor of neurosurgery, education and public health at the University of Toronto and vice-president of ThinkFirst Canada, a national injury prevention organization. “While many can identify how a concussion may occur, most cannot identify the symptoms and are under the impression that concussions can be treated with physician-prescribed medication or physical therapy. Many also believe it’s okay to return to play before they have fully recovered from such a brain injury. This is troublesome since repeated brain injuries can lead to long term effects in functions such as memory, behaviour, mood, social relations and school or work performance." Key findings of the study include:
Up to two thirds of players had the mistaken impression that a player has to lose consciousness to have suffered a concussion
A quarter of adults and up to half of children could not identify any symptoms of a concussion or could name only one symptom of a concussion.
About one-half of players and a fifth of adults mistakenly believed concussions are treated with medication or physical therapy
About a quarter of all players did not know if an athlete experiencing symptoms of a concussion should continue playing
About 4 in 10 of younger players and 3 in 10 of the older players thought a concussed athlete could return to play when feeling "90% better" or "while experiencing a mild headache for the next game as long as it's at least two days later."
In Canada, ice hockey is the main cause of sports-related traumatic brain injury. Statistics suggest youth 5-17 have about 2.8 concussions per 1,000 player-hours of ice hockey while university and elite amateur players sustain rates of 4.2 and 6.6 concussions per 1,000 player hours. Concussions have forced many NHL players like Brett Lindros and Pat LaFontaine to retire early and others like Eric Lindros and goalie Mike Richter to stay off the ice for an extended time because of repeated head injuries. Concussions can have cumulative and lasting effects on memory, judgment, social conduct, reflexes, speech, balance and co-ordination. Key to preventing repeated injuries is to recognize the symptoms of concussion when they occur and knowing how to deal with their effects. "Motivation to win, the wish to advance in their sport and earning the acceptance of their team-mates often outweigh an athletes' decision, or their parents' or coaches' decision, to play safe. This mind-set, coupled with the influence of media and behaviour of some parents, coaches and officials, unfortunately send a clear message that it is more important to continue to play injured than take someone out of the game," said Dr. Cusimano. "This 'win at all costs' attitude places added responsibility on parents, coaches and medical professionals to recognize symptoms of a concussion and take all necessary steps to ensure a culture of healthy attitudes and behaviours among players and in leagues." Changes in rules such as removing fighting and body checking, proper use of helmets, softer shoulder and elbow pads, improved enforcement of rules, educational efforts and recognizing the critical role that professionals and the media have in shaping the culture of the sport would be beneficial, he added.
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St. Michael’s Hospital is a large and vibrant, teaching and research hospital in the heart of Toronto. Fully affiliated with the University of Toronto, St. Michael’s Hospital leads with innovation, and serves with compassion. Renowned for providing exceptional patient care, St. Michael’s Hospital is a regional trauma centre and downtown Toronto’s designated adult trauma centre.
The Southwest Injury Prevention Network (SWIPN - MIddlesex- London Health Unit) are urging walkers, runners, cyclists and others to follow safety guidelines when they use roadways to keep physically active in the coming months as part of the Be Safe Be Seen campaign. Being struck by vehicles is the most common risk for athletes using roads for exercise. Remember:
wear light or brightly coloured clothing or clothing that includes reflective material
use the appropriate lights and reflectors when cycling
make eye contact with drivers when crossing busy streets
wear the appropriate safety gear, including a helmet, when you are cycling or rollerblading.
Ottawa, ON. . . In celebration of the International Day Against Homophobia, CAAWS is pleased to announce the launch of its dedicated website to address homophobia in sport – http://www.caaws.ca/homophobia/e/index.cfm. This new website provides a wealth of information and tools to help you and your organization better understand what homophobia is and combat homophobia in Canadian sport today. More and more youth are coming out at younger ages, and often a coach is one of the first people s/he may come out to. When traveling to competitions outside Canada, LGBTQ team members are at increased risks in certain parts of the world where it is either illegal or not safe to be identified as LGBTQ From the position paper Seeing the Invisible, Speaking the Unspoken and the extensive listing Safer and Not Safe Places for LGBTQ Athletes and Coaches to the very practical Coaches’ Chalk Talks and Action Lists for coaches, athletes and administrators, the website contains free resources and information to help make your organization and your sport more welcoming to lesbian, gay, bisexual, transgender, queer and questioning (LGBTQ) persons. To learn more about and/or download these tools and resources, visit http://www.caaws.ca/homophobia/e/resources/index.cfm.
Learn more about how you can host a homophobia in sport workshop, presentation or interactive session to further examine and understand LGBTQ issues, how best to handle them, and the important role coaches and sport leaders can play in making sport more accepting of sexual diversity. CAAWS is able to offer these workshops at a nominal fee due to the continued federal financial support for this initiative. For more information, visit http://www.caaws.ca/homophobia/e/workshops/index.cfm.
CAAWS provides leadership, education and builds capacity to foster equitable support, diverse opportunities and positive experiences for girls and women in sport and physical activity. CAAWS envisions an equitable sport and physical activity system in which girls and women are actively engaged as participants and leaders. A not-for-profit organization, CAAWS offers a number of services, programs and resources to a variety of clients, including sport and physical activity organizations, teachers, coaches, health professionals and recreation leaders. CAAWS works in close co-operation with government and non-government organizations on activities and initiatives that advocate for positive change for young girls and women in the sport and physical activity communities. Visit www.caaws.ca. for more information.
Thursday, May 14th is National Lifejacket Day TORONTO, May 13 /CNW Telbec/ - While enjoying a day on the water, it's easy to forget that emergencies can happen in a split second, and in that moment, wearing a lifejacket could make all the difference. Every year, approximately 200 Canadians drown while boating. Of those who drown, 90 per cent are not properly wearing their lifejacket. It may be on but not secured, the wrong size or not worn at all. Shane Eickmann, summer injury prevention coordinator for Canadian Red Cross swimming and water safety programs, urges everyone to wear their lifejacket and plan to stay safe. "If you are heading out on the water this weekend, ensure you are wearing your lifejacket and that someone on shore knows where you are going and when you will be back," he says. "If your boat capsizes, the chances of getting your lifejacket on after are on slim - it would be like trying to put your seatbelt on as your car is crashing." On National Lifejacket Day, May 14, and throughout the season, Red Cross is encouraging all boaters, of all skill levels, to wear their lifejackets when in a boat, and to ensure it is properly secured. As part of this initiative, the Red Cross would like to make it even easier for Canadians to wear a lifejacket. Mustang Survival, manufacturers of lifejackets and a partner in water safety with Red Cross, is offering lifejackets as prizes as part of a summer safety contest. Visit www.redcross.ca/lifejacketday and enter to win one of 20 family packs of lifejackets, or one of four grand prizes of two adult inflatable lifejackets. Eickmann also reminds boaters that lifejackets have come a long way from the bulky, uncomfortable models that most people recall. "Lifejackets are now made with new technology, making them ideal for high performance sports such as kayaking, seadooing and rowing as well as recreational and sport fishing - activities requiring gear that allows mobility," he says. "Not wearing a lifejacket because it interferes with your activity isn't an excuse anymore." For more information about Red Cross swimming and water safety programs, visit www.redcross.ca/swim. For more information about Mustang Survival products, visit www.mustangsurvival.ca. For further information: Jennifer Mayville, Communications Coordinator, Canadian Red Cross, (416) 480-0195 ext. 2253
Dr. Karen Johnston provides input on diagnosis and treatment guidelines
TORONTO, May 11 /CNW/ - A first-of-its-kind consensus statement that addresses the definition, diagnosis, treatment and assessment of concussions was published Friday in the Clinical Journal of Sport Medicine and will appear in many other prestigious journals, such as the British Journal of Sports Medicine and Journal of Clinical Neuroscience in the coming weeks.
The document was drafted by a group of international concussion experts and is intended to be used as a guide for athletic trainers, health-care professionals, coaches and other people involved in the care of injured athletes. The document was developed at the 3rd International Conference on Concussion in Sport, which was held in Zurich in late 2008. The conference was organized by the International Ice Hockey Federation (IIHF), the Federation Internationale de Football (FIFA), the International Olympic Committee Medical Commission (IOC) and the International Rugby Board (IRB).
"The IIHF, FIFA, IOC and IRB once again brought together world experts in sport concussion, this time to achieve a consensus document. This is a first and follows guideline papers previously developed first in Vienna then in Prague," says Dr. Karen Johnston, neurosurgeon and director of the Sport Concussion Clinic at the Toronto Rehabilitation Institute (Toronto Rehab) and an international neurosurgical consultant for professional and amateur sporting groups. "The paper provides important updates to our understanding of sport concussion based on new science and directs modified approaches to diagnostic and management issues. It will become the "go to" document for sport doctors, coaches, trainers and athletes alike to guide them in dealing with sport concussion."
The paper is accompanied by a revised Sport Concussion Assessment Tool(SCAT2), an objective and standardized diagnosis method for caregivers to use for concussions in athletes over the age of 10. Some highlights of the consensus document include:
Return-to-play guidelines for both elite and non-elite athletes
The use of balance assessment technology in diagnosing concussions
he importance of knowledge transfer about concussions between athletes, health-care providers and the general public
The introduction of a pocket-sized SCAT2
For further information: To arrange an interview with Dr. KarenJohnston, please contact: Angela Baker, Media Relations Specialist, Toronto Rehab, (416) 597-3422, ext. 3837, baker.angela@torontorehab.on.ca
NORTH YORK, ON- Softball Ontario is excited to announce its original Respect My Game Program- an innovative program geared to create and build mutual respect between all participants in the great game of Softball. Softball Ontario’s Respect My Game Program was funded by the Ministry of Health Promotion specifically Active 2010, which assisted in the development and launching of the ground breaking “Respect My Game” Program.
The Softball Community is encouraged to visit the Softball Ontario website to access the free resource materials to do their part in creating mutual respect amongst all the stakeholders in the game of Softball. The free downloads that can be found at www.softballontario.ca includehttp://www.softballontario.ca include:
The Respect My Game Card- to be distributed to various stakeholders within your Association (i.e. League Executive, Members, Divisional Coordinators, Coaches, Players, Parents, etc.)
The Respect My Game Umpire Card-each Umpire who registers with Softball Ontario will receive a laminated copy of the Respect My Game Umpire Card which was designed to be included in the Umpire’s Place Conference prior to each game
Respect My Game Posters- available with both Female and Male players. Ideal to hang these posters in your League Clubhouse and at Tournaments to promote the Association’s participants in the Respect My Game Program
Respect My Game Guide for Parents and Guide for Coaches- is a resource designed to help parents or coaches identify whether their behaviour is abusive and help them better understand the (ten) 10 most misunderstood rules in the game. It also contains the Parents’ and Coaches’ Code of Conduct
Respect My Game Code of Conduct for Players of the Game- use the Respect My Game Player’s Code of Conduct to encourage respect amongst players as well as towards the people in leadership roles (Coaches, Umpires, League Executives, etc)
The Respect My Game Clinic Manual- to be used for in all of Softball Ontario training opportunities and provides strategies and gives exams of how to build mutual respect between Umpires and Umpires, Umpires and Coaches, Players and Umpires, Players and Coaches, Parents and Coaches
The Respect My Game Brochure- promotional material that provides an overview of the Respect My Game Program The "Respect My Game" Program will be included in all of Softball Ontario's training opportunities including the Umpires Program, the Coaches Program, the Scorekeeping Program and Certified Softball Administrator Program.
By incorporating the "Respect My Game" program into all the technical components of the game and making the resources available for free on the Softball Ontario website, the ideals of this cutting edge program will permeate throughout the entire softball community.
For more information about the Softball Ontario’s Respect My Game Program, please contact Steph Sutton @ ssutton@softballontario.ca or 416-426-7150.
Softball Ontario is the governing body for the sport of softball in Ontario. Our goal is to promote and develop the sport of softball for its athletes, officials and volunteers by providing programs and services at all levels of competitions.
Weakness in the muscles that support the hips may be a common contributor to many overuse injuries in runners, a new research review suggests.
For most runners, overuse injuries occur at or below the knee -- including chronic knee pain, shin splints, Achilles tendonitis and pain in the sole of the foot. The new study, a review of previous research findings published since 1980, found that weakness in the hip muscles may translate into a higher risk of these lower-leg injuries.
The findings are published in the journal Sports Health. For a link to the abstract or to purchase the full text of the article click here.
The American Orthopaedic Foot & Ankle Society (AOFAS) has a few suggestions for avoiding injuries to your feet when exercising
Warm up exercises such as a short period of walking and stretching.
Stretch again after exercising.
Wear footwear specific to the sport
Appropriate training for the specific sport. Impact sports such as running will place greater stress on your feet. Without proper training that builds up your tolerance to impact activities, stress fractures can occur.
Cross train with non-impact sports such as cycling and swimming
MONTREAL, April 27 /CNW/ - CSA International will officially launch a
testing and certification program for the Z263.1 Recreational Alpine Skiing
and Snowboarding Helmets Standard on April 30, 2009. The launch will take
place at the CSA International facility in Montreal, which is now ready to
accept submissions from helmet manufacturers across Canada.
Following brief remarks from Helene Vaillancourt, Operations Manager, CSA
International, there will be a demonstration of testing procedures at the lab
and a tour of the facility.
CSA's Z263.1 Recreational Alpine Skiing and Snowboarding Helmets is
Canada's first standard intended to help reduce head injuries for recreational
alpine skiers and snowboarders. It defines the areas of the head that are to
be protected for impact injuries and covers the basic performance requirements
for shock absorption, helmet stability, and retention system strength as well
as marking and labeling requirements.
The number of traumatic injuries and fatalities have increased in Canada
along with the rising popularity of skiing and snowboarding. Brain injury is
the main cause of death among skiers and snowboarders.
For more details on the presentation please click here
The CBC News (April 14, 2009)
writes on Australian research which shows poor urban design and safety fears are critical factors in
determining whether children walk or cycle to school.
The researchers say their findings can help inform public policy that will increase children travelling to school by foot or bicycle.
Dr. Clare Hume, from the Deakin University's Centre for Physical Activity
and Nutrition Research, and
colleagues report the proportion of Australian school children walking
to school dropped from 37 per cent in 1985 to 26 per cent in 2001.
At the same time, the proportion of children cycling to school is
now so low it is statistically too insignificant to be considered on
its own. The decrease in what is known as active commuting has
occurred at the same time as obesity rates among children have
increased. As a result, programs that aim to increase active commuting
throughout childhood and in adolescence may have a positive effect on
children's accumulated physical activity.
Hume and colleagues took a closer look at the factors that affect the amount of active transport among children and adolescents.
They tracked children and adolescents' mode of travel to school between 2004 and 2006.
During that period active commuting among the younger cohort, who
were aged nine at the start of the study, increased significantly by
1.04 trips per week.
For the older adolescents (aged 14 at the start of the study) the
increase was smaller with an additional in 0.65 trips per week.
Hume says there was no gender difference in the rates of walking to school.
For the younger cohort, Hume says the study highlighted one factor as critical to whether the children actively commuted. Children of parents who reported that the child had many friends in
their area were twice as likely as to increase their active commuting
compared with other children [in terms of mean trips per week.
For adolescents, whether they walked or cycled to school was related
to urban design issues such as the presence of pedestrian crossings and
traffic lights.
April 6, 2009. That big, around-the-world, underhand windup that fast-pitch softball pitchers use to overwhelm their opponents actually makes their biceps muscle work harder than an overhand throw, researchers have found in a recent study published in the March issue of the American Journal of Sports Medicine.
Windmill pitching produces high forces and torques at the shoulder and elbow, making the biceps labrum complex susceptible
to overuse injury.
The
study results suggest that the windmill pitch increases the risk
for overuse injuries to the biceps, compared with overhand throwing.
In female athletes, biceps brachii activity during the windmill pitch is higher than during an overhand throw and is most active during the 9-o’clock and follow-through phases of the pitch.
Repetitive eccentric biceps contractions may help explain the high incidence of anterior shoulder pain clinically observed in elite windmill pitchers. Injury prevention and treatment mechanisms should focus on the phases with the highest muscle activity.
Toronto, March 25, 2009 – Each year, hundreds of preventable head injuries are reported on Canadian ski, snowboard and toboggan hills.1 Canadian Standards Association (CSA), a leading developer of standards and codes, announces the country’s first recreational alpine skiing and snowboarding helmet standard to help protect winter sports enthusiasts on Canadian slopes.
According to the Canadian Ski Council, 2007-2008 Canadian Skier and Snowboarder Facts and Stats report, there are now some 4.2-million Canadians participating in downhill skiing and snowboarding. Since 2004, the total number of skiers has increased by 25 per cent, snowboarders by 23 per cent.
As the popularity of these sports has grown, so too have the number of traumatic injuries and even fatalities, with traumatic brain injury cited as the main cause of death among skiers and snowboarders.2 Research has shown that helmets used for skiing and snowboarding are associated with a 60 per cent reduction in head injuries.3
"Canada’s first recreational alpine skiing and snowboarding helmet standard was developed by leading industry, medical experts, Health Canada, and other stakeholders to help improve head protection for participants in these popular winter activities, "says John Walter, Vice President, Standards Development, CSA. "The sobering statistics and increased number of head injuries indicated a need to develop the standard specifically designed for the Canadian market. CSA is all about life and we want to facilitate family and individuals’ safety while they enjoy these sports."
CSA's Z263.1 Recreational Alpine Skiing and Snowboarding Helmets applies to helmets intended to help reduce head injuries for recreational alpine skiers and snowboarders. It defines the areas of the head that are to be protected for impact injuries and covers the basic performance requirements for shock absorption, helmet stability, and retention system strength as well as marking and labelling requirements. Helmets that comply with the standard will be designed to sustain multiple impacts. The standard also applies to helmets worn for other non-motorized recreational snow sport activities such as tobogganing or sledding.
Many alpine ski and snowboard helmets currently on the Canadian market are "self-certified" by manufacturers to American and European standards. In Canada, there are no requirements for helmets to meet any standard and some helmets may offer little protection at all. In order to meet the CSA standard and earn a certification mark, alpine ski and snowboard helmets will have to be certified and tested by a laboratory accredited by the Standards Council of Canada (SCC).
Although the CSA Z263.1 Recreational Alpine Skiing and Snowboarding Helmets standard was in place in 2008, until now there has not been a Canadian certification program accredited by the SCC. CSA International has made a formal application to the SCC, and anticipates the office in Montreal will soon offer Canada's first SCC accredited certification program to the new standard. The Montreal facility will be accepting submissions from helmet manufacturers beginning in April 2009.
The standard in particular would not have been possible without the tireless efforts of Richard Kinar of West Vancouver. After witnessing a serious collision between two young skiers that resulted in serious head injuries, Kinar began a grassroots campaign to raise funds for the development of a Canadian standard for alpine ski and snowboard helmets. Richard Kinar's devotion to ski and snowboard safety ultimately led to the Government of British Columbia providing initial funding to make the standard possible.
CSA is a not-for-profit, non-government organization and compliance with all CSA standards is voluntary unless legislated by government or mandated by industry or trade associations. It will be up to manufacturers to submit their product for certification by certification and testing organizations recognized by the Standards Council of Canada.
Helmets alone cannot prevent all injuries. Skiers, boarders and sledders should always be aware of their surroundings and practice sports in a manner compliant with their level of experience.
1Injuries associated with downhill skiing, snowboarding and sledding: Canadian Hospitals Injury Reporting and Prevention Program (CHIRPP) database, 1990-91 to 2006-07.
2Ackery A, Hagel BE, Provvidenza C, Tator CH. An international review of head and spinal cord injuries in alpine skiing and snowboarding. Inj Prev 2007;13:368–375
3Helmet Use and Risk of Head Injuries in Alpine Skiers and Snowboarders. Steinar Sulheim, MD; Ingar Holme, PhD; Arne Ekeland, MD, PhD; Roald Bahr, MD, PhD. JAMA. 2006;295:919-924.
Canadian Physiotherapy Association advises parents on protecting children from head injuries during active holiday period
TORONTO, March 16 /CNW/ - Many Canadian children are enjoying time off from school this week and that means a lot of them are skiing, snowboarding, skating, and participating in other outdoor activities. It also means they maybe at higher risk for injury, including a concussion or a more serious brain injury.
Every year about 45,000 Canadians get a concussion. In the past, medical experts expected people suffering a single concussion to recover fairly quickly without serious long term problems. But recent studies are shedding new light on the long term effects of concussions. A Canadian study indicates that even one major concussion can result in poorer memory,decreased reaction times, and a decline in motor skills later in life.
The Canadian Physiotherapy Association (CPA) wants families to enjoy the outdoors this spring break but is reminding them to exercise caution when taking part in activities where they may be at risk for a head injury. CPA recommends the use of properly fitted, approved helmets for sports like tobogganing, snowboarding, skiing, cycling, and skateboarding. If every kid starts wearing a helmet on the slopes or on the ice during the holiday break, it'll be pretty un-cool for their friends to go without!
"We treat kids with brain injuries that, unfortunately, could have been prevented or been less serious if the children had been wearing helmets," says Ellie Wannamaker, a Physiotherapist at Bloorview Kids Rehab in Toronto,Canada's largest children's rehabilitation hospital. "While helmets do not prevent all head injuries, they offer effective protection that can minimize the effects of a blow to the head. Any time a child is doing an activity where they are going faster than their own speed, they should be wearing a helmet. Your child many not think it looks cool, but it could save him or her from a serious injury or even death."
If you think your child has a concussion, here are some of the signs to watch for:
- Physical symptoms including headache, nausea, fatigue, dizziness, confusion, ringing in ears, or vision loss - Behavioral changes including irritability and anxiety - Cognitive changes including memory loss, slowed thinking, or lack of concentration
If your child is experiencing these symptoms, you should immediately seek medical attention and make sure he/she does not take part in any activity that could cause a second blow to the head. If your child is diagnosed with a more serious brain injury consider consulting a physiotherapist. Physiotherapists, whether they work in hospitals, rehab settings, or private clinics, are a vital part of the team in the recovery and rehabilitation process for children who have sustained serious brain injury. A physiotherapist will assess the physical skills and abilities of the child and provide a treatment plan to ensure maximal recovery and a safe return to regular activities.
Monsieur Christopher Higgins du
Canadiens de Montréal participe au lancement du site qui met l’accent
sur la prévention et le traitement des blessures.
Montréal –
Chaque année à L’Hôpital de Montréal pour enfants du Centre
universitaire de santé McGill, 15 000 enfants sont traités pour des
blessures traumatiques. Cela représente plus de 41 bébés, enfants ou
adolescents qui se blessent chaque jour de diverses façons, notamment
en pratiquant la planche à neige, en skiant, en glissant ou en jouant
au hockey. L’HME voit aussi beaucoup trop d’enfants ébouillantés,
intoxiqués par des produits nocifs ou blessés après être tombés d’une
table à langer ou dans les escaliers. Quant aux collisions automobiles,
elles laissent souvent des séquelles pour la vie.
C’est pourquoi les programmes de traumatologie de L’Hôpital de
Montréal pour enfants et leur porte-parole monsieur Christopher Higgins
du Canadiens de Montréal dévoilent aujourd’hui un tout nouveau site Web.
Le site Web bilingue est conçu pour que les visiteurs puissent y
trouver rapidement des renseignements professionnels actuels, clairs,
précis, concis, pratiques et de confiance pour, idéalement, éviter les
blessures, mais aussi pour traiter les blessures les plus courantes
comme les brûlures, les entorses, les commotions cérébrales, les
traumatismes dentaires et autres.
« En 2009, la recherche sur Internet est devenue chose courante
pour bien des gens. Avec notre site, nous souhaitons assurer la
diffusion de renseignements crédibles et opportuns, et partager notre
expertise de la traumatologie. C’est pourquoi nous lançons ce nouveau
site québécois bilingue », explique Debbie Friedman, directrice des
programmes de traumatologie de L’HME. « Nous travaillons très fort sur
deux fronts : la prestation de soins traumatologiques de niveau
tertiaire et la prévention des blessures. Grâce au site Web, nous
disposons enfin d’un outil beaucoup plus efficace pour rejoindre les
enfants, les adolescents, les parents, les entraîneurs, les enseignants
et plusieurs de nos partenaires du réseau de traumatologie au Québec et
au Canada.
Cet outil est particulièrement utile pour couvrir les zones
géographiques difficiles d’accès, et éventuellement toute la planète!
Nos partenaires de la communauté peuvent aussi utiliser notre
savoir-faire pour développer différents programmes. »
« Je suis très fier d’être associé aux programmes de traumatologie
de L’Hôpital de Montréal pour enfants et de participer au lancement de
cet important site Web », de dire monsieur Christopher Higgins. «
Dernièrement, je me suis blessé à l’épaule en jouant au hockey, et je
sais qu’il est très pénible d’être blessé. C’est pourquoi le site de traumatologie est
si important. Il donne aux parents et aux adolescents des conseils
clairs et simples pour s’amuser et être actif en toute sécurité. »
Le site Web présente une capsule vidéo de monsieur Higgins qui
donne quelques précieux conseils aux adolescents pour éviter les
blessures traumatiques et les inciter à ne pas reprendre le jeu tant
qu’ils sont blessés.
Le site se parcourt très facilement et comporte sept volets :
Traitement des blessures :
cette section a pour but de fournir des renseignements généraux sur
différents types de traumatismes et sur les traitements initiaux à
administrer en attendant une aide médicale. Bien que les parents
puissent y trouver plusieurs conseils pratiques, le but n'est pas de
remplacer les avis et les soins médicaux nécessaires. À titre de centre
de traumatologie provincial désigné, chaque année L’HME traite aux
urgences environ 15 000 enfants et adolescents par année. Plus de 600
de ces patients subissent des blessures suffisamment graves pour
nécessiter une hospitalisation et l’intervention de nos spécialistes en
traumatologie.
Prévention des blessures : cette
section couvre une foule de sujets tels que la prévention des brûlures
et des incendies, la sécurité routière, la prévention des
intoxications, les blessures sportives et la sécurité durant les
vacances. L’objectif est de donner aux visiteurs des conseils judicieux
pour mieux prévenir les blessures chez les enfants. Chaque année au
Canada, 500 000 enfants (10 % de la population âgée de 18 ans et moins)
se blessent assez gravement pour devoir interrompre leur activité en
cours et consulter un service médical.
Bébés et bambins (0 à 3 ans) :
cette section spéciale comprend une maison virtuelle interactive et un
jeu-questionnaire qui mettent en scène les blessures les plus
fréquentes à se produire à la maison ou dans ses environs. La maison
virtuelle a été créée en collaboration avec la Fondation Lucie et André
Chagnon – et son nouveau site Naitreetgrandir.net. Chaque année,
L’Hôpital de Montréal pour enfants voit plus de 3 700 enfants âgés de
moins de quatre ans qui ont subi des blessures traumatiques dont la
majorité aurait pu être évitée.
Ados : cette section offre
déjà une capsule vidéo de monsieur Christopher Higgins, qui prodigue de
précieux conseils sur les sports et activités récréationnelles, ainsi
que plusieurs textes sur des sujets d’intérêt pour les adolescents,
comme l’alcool au volant et les comportements à risque.
Par ailleurs, le site contient une section réservée aux professionnels
de la santé pour les tenir au courant des plus récents développements
en traumatologie pour les enfants et les adolescents, y compris des
protocoles établis par les programmes de traumatologie de L’Hôpital de
Montréal pour enfants.
La section Recherche clinique soulignera les
différentes initiatives et collaborations entreprises par les
programmes de traumatologie.
Enfin, la section Traumatologie à L’HME
propose des renseignements sur les différents programmes, les
réalisations passées et les démarches pour transférer les enfants sous
nos soins.
La réalisation du site a été rendue possible grâce à la générosité des donateurs de la Fondation de L’Hôpital de Montréal pour enfants.
Ce site, duquel la publicité est totalement absente, sera mis à
jour régulièrement pour nous assurer que les parents disposent des
renseignements les plus actuels qui soient sur la prévention et le
traitement des blessures.
Chris Higgins of the Montreal Canadiens helps unveil the website which focuses on trauma prevention and treatment of injuries
Montreal - Each year at The Montreal Children’s Hospital of the McGill University
Health Centre 15,000 children are treated for traumatic injuries.
That’s over 41 infants, children or teenagers a day who have been
injured in a multitude of ways such as snowboarding, skiing,
tobogganing or playing hockey. Motor vehicle collisions often result in
lifelong consequences. The MCH also sees far too many children injured
by falling down stairs or off changing tables, scalding hot water, or
ingesting noxious chemicals.
This is why
The Montreal Children’s Hospital Trauma Programs and spokesperson Chris
Higgins of The Montreal Canadians today unveiled a brand new website.
The bilingual
site is designed to provide visitors with up-to-date, timely, clear,
concise, practical, trustworthy and professional information on,
ideally, how to avoid being injured, but also how to treat common
injuries such as burns, ankle sprains, concussions, dental trauma and
others.
“In 2009
searching the web has become a common practice for many. We want to
ensure the diffusion of timely credible information and share our
Trauma expertise. This is why we’ve launched this new bilingual Quebec
website,” says Debbie Friedman the Director of the MCH Trauma Programs.
“We work hard on both fronts: providing tertiary level trauma care and
injury prevention.
Thanks to
this website, we will have a much more efficient and effective way of
reaching children, teens, parents, coaches, teachers and many of our
partners in the Quebec and Canadian trauma network. The site is
especially useful for geographical areas that are not easy to
reach—possibly on a global scale. Community partners can then use our
expertise to develop their own programs.”
“I am very
proud to be associated with the Trauma Programs of the Montreal
Children’s Hospital and to be part of the launch of this important
website,” says Mr. Christopher Higgins. “I recently hurt my shoulder
playing hockey, and I know being hurt is no fun. That is why this site is
so valuable. It provides parents and teens with some straightforward,
easy to understand information on how to have fun by staying active,
but also by staying safe.”
The web site
also features a video with Mr. Higgins offering teens some important
advice on how to avoid traumatic injuries, and not play through a
trauma.
The easy to navigate site is divided in to seven categories:
Treating Injuries:
designed to provide general information about different types of trauma
and the initial management until medical help can be obtained. This
section gives parents some practical advice, but is not intended to be
a substitute for proper medical care.
As a provincially designated
Trauma Centre, the MCH treats 15,000 children and teens in our ER each
year. Over 600 of these patients sustain injuries that are serious,
require hospitalization and the interventions of our trauma experts.
Injury Prevention: It
covers a plethora of information on burn and fire safety, road safety,
poisoning prevention, sports injuries and holiday safety. It is
designed to give visitors some common sense tips on how to prevent a
child from being injured. In Canada, each year, 500,00 children (10% of
the population aged 18 years and under) injure themselves severely
enough that they have to stop their current activity and seek medical
advice.
Infant and Toddlers 0-3:
This special section features an interactive virtual house and quiz
that highlights some of the most common injuries that take place in and
around the house. The virtual house was created in collaboration with
the Fondation Lucie et André Chagnon – and its new site
Naitreetgrandinr.net. Each year, the Montreal Children’s Hospital sees
over 3700 children under the age of four who have sustained traumatic
injuries, the majority of which are preventable.
For Teens: This
section already includes a video with important sports tips from
Christopher Higgins, and other topics of interest for teens such as
drinking and driving, risky behavior and sports and recreational
activities.
There are also sections designed for Health Professionals
to provide them with up-to-date information on pediatric and adolescent
trauma including some of the protocols established by The Montreal
Children’s Hospital Trauma Programs.
The section Clinical Research will highlight the various initiatives and collaborative work undertaken by the Programs.
The About Trauma section provides information about the different programs, history accomplishments and how to refer children to our Trauma Programs.
www.thechildren.com/trauma was
made possible thanks to the generous donations made to The Montreal
Children’s Hospital Foundation. The site is 100% commercial free. It
will be updated regularly to make sure web users have all the latest
information and research on how to prevent and treat injuries.
The trauma specialists at The Montreal Children's Hospital of the McGill University Health Centre invite you to the launch of www.thechildren.com/trauma, in the presence of Christopher Higgins of the Montreal Canadiens, spokesperson of the program.
WHEN: February 17, 2009 at 10:00 WHERE: The Montreal Children's Hospital 2300 Tupper Street Amphitheatre (D-182)
The Trauma specialists at the Montreal Children's Hospital see it everyday, Quebec children seriously injured snowboarding, skiing, tobogganing or playing hockey. Motor vehicle collisions often result in lifelong consequences. They also see far too many children injured by falling downstairs or off changing tables, scalding hot water, or ingesting noxious chemicals.
"The Montreal Children's Hospital is a Trauma Centre. Every year, we treat over 15,000 children who have suffered traumatic injuries. We work hard on two fronts: providing tertiary level trauma care and promoting injury prevention. Thanks to this website, we will have a much more efficient and effective way of reaching children, teens, parents, coaches, teachers and many of our partners in the Quebec and Canadian trauma network," says Debbie Friedman, director of the MCH Trauma Programs, which includes a specific Injury Prevention Program. "This is especially useful for geographical areas that are not easy to reach-possibly on a global scale. Community partners can then use our expertise to develop different programs."
www.thechildren.com/trauma provides parents and teens with information on injury prevention and trauma care. It also features an interactive house and quiz which highlights ways of avoiding typical injuries in and around the home sustained by infants and toddlers. Sections are also devoted to health professionals seeking information on the management of different types of trauma and research activities.
The Globe & Mail (January 28, 2009 By: Hayley Mick) writes that according to a new Canadian study, athletes
who suffered concussions in their youth show a far more rapid mental
decline as they grow older.
The study, which looked at university-level hockey and football
players now in their early 60s, found that the group who had no history
of concussion scored much higher in tests of memory, motor skills and
reaction time compared with former athletes who had suffered one or
more concussions at least 30 years ago.
This type of mild cognitive impairment, especially premature memory
loss, can be a risk factor for Alzheimer's disease, which most often
affects people over 65, said the study's lead author Louis De Beaumont,
a graduate student at the University of Montreal.
Over the past decade, doctors and scientists have sounded the alarm
on the effects of concussions in contact sports. They have found poster
boys in high-profile athletes such as hockey star Eric Lindros, whose
stunted athletic career, and boxer Muhammad Ali, whose failing health,
have been linked to repeated head trauma.
But this study - published yesterday in an online version of the
journal Brain - adds to growing evidence that shows concussions can
leave long-lasting damage and may even accelerate the aging process.
LONDON, ON, Jan. 22 /CNW/ - The Middlesex-London Health Unit will announce details about its upcoming Violence in Hockey Symposium at a news conference on Monday, January 26th at 10 a.m. , at the Western Fair Sportsplex in London. "Our ultimate goal is a ban on fighting and violence at all levels of hockey," says Dr. Graham Pollett, the Health Unit's Medical Officer of Health. "This symposium is a step toward that target." The one-day symposium is scheduled for late-February. Several notable speakers will make presentations at the event. Representatives from the Health Unit, and several of those who will speak at the symposium will be present at the news conference. Symposium registration forms and a detailed schedule of the day will also be available.
For further information: Media contact: Dan Flaherty, Communications Manager, Middlesex-London Health Unit, (519) 663-5317 ext. 2469 or (519) 617-0570 (cell); Spokesperson: Dr. Graham Pollett, Medical Officer of Health, Middlesex-London Health Unit
BRANTFORD, Ont.
— Police in Brantford, Ont., have opened an investigation into the
death of a 21-year-old hockey player who died Friday three weeks after
hitting his unprotected head on the ice during a fight.
Don Sanderson, a defenceman for the Ontario Hockey Association's
Whitby Dunlops, went into a coma following a tussle with Corey Fulton
of the Brantford Blast during a Dec. 12 game at the Brantford Civic
Centre.
Video footage and eyewitness accounts of the incident suggest Mr.
Sanderson's helmet fell off as both tumbled to the ice during the
skirmish.
“The Brantford Police Service is assisting the coroner's office by
conducting an investigation into (Sanderson's) tragic death,” said
Staff Sergeant Steve Sumsion.
An investigator with the forces' supports services section will
look into the circumstances leading to the player's injuries and his
subsequent death, he added.
“A police investigation such as this, at the direction of the
coroner, is standard practice and procedure,” Staff SDgt. Sumsion said.
The death of Mr. Sanderson, a York University student and native of
Port Perry, Ont., has prompted league officials to probe rules
governing the use of helmets.
While the rule book stipulates players must wear a proper helmet
that's securely fastened, those involved in the sport concede there's
variation in how the equipment can be worn.
Steve Cardwell, president of the Whitby Dunlops, has said he hopes
the fatal incident sparks debate on the issue. He said everyone is
making a mistake if no one learns from Mr. Sanderson's tragic death.
A funeral for Mr. Sanderson has been scheduled for Jan. 5 at the Immaculate Conception Catholic Church in Port Perry.
Players will also honour the player during a special ceremony at an
upcoming Whitby Dunlops game on Jan. 17 at Iroquois Park Arena.
CBC News (December 30, 2008
By Rebecca Ruiz) reports that wintertime exercise does have
its risks. From weather-induced asthma to ski injuries to slipping on
ice, a lack of preparation and a refusal to be honest about your
physical limitations can lead to avoidable injuries.
In
2006, Dr. John W. Castellani, a research physiologist for the U.S. Army
Research Institute of Environmental Medicine who specializes in cold
weather exercise. used his extensive research on cold-weather injuries
in the Army — hypothermia and frostbite top the list — to help develop
a set of winter exercise recommendations for the American College of
Sports Medicine. These recommendations emphasize a "risk-management
strategy" that considers the temperature and wind chill, clothing
protection, pre-existing health conditions, ways to diminish the
possibility of cold stress and injury risk, and a contingency plan in
case of injury.
If you're like most weekend warriors eager to hit the slopes while the
powder is fresh, prepping for cold-weather exercise probably consists
of taking a few pre-emptive ibuprofen. The ACSM approach, however, can
be incorporated into a workout regimen with just a simple checklist:
Dress appropriately for the elements; choose a distance, time and
exertion level based on current health conditions; and have a back-up
plan should a sudden injury force you to walk or limp home in the cold.
Dr.
Malachy McHugh, director of research at the Nicholas Institute of
Sports Medicine and Athletic Trauma at Lenox Hill Hospital in New York
City, says that his clinic sees a surge in the number of ski-related
injuries in February and that many of them result from poor investment
in the fundamental components of fitness like balance, stability, and
abdominal strength. His patients most commonly suffer ligament injuries
in the ankles and knees. If you're a downhill skier doing black diamonds and mogul fields
you need to do strength training for the quadriceps, hamstrings and
core.
McHugh recommends creating a conditioning program with a trainer or
expert that focuses on key muscles and ligaments depending on the
winter sport.
Posted December 10, 2008, US News and World Report
Teen sports are great: They can promote teamwork, jump-start a lifelong exercise habit, and provide an antidote to obesity. But teen athletes can also get hurt, which means they—and their parents and coaches—should be vigilant about prevention.
Sports injuries fall into two categories. Acute injuries, like a
sprained ankle or torn ACL in the knee, occur suddenly, after a missed
step or a midfield collision. Overuse injuries are caused by repetitive
motion that damages the body over time. Those used to be fairly rare
among teens and kids. But increasingly, doctors see teens with overuse
injuries that used to plague mostly collegiate or pro athletes—such as
a damaged ulnar collateral ligament in the elbow (common in baseball
pitchers, it can be fixed with so-called Tommy John reconstruction
surgery). Or osteochondritis dissecans, an overuse problem most
commonly found in the knee that can result in loose bone or cartilage
fragments in the joint.
One culprit: America's crazed youth sports culture. There are high
school teams, private club teams, all-star traveling teams, and sports
summer camps. That means more injuries, says Mininder Kocher, the
associate director of the Division of Sports Medicine at Children's
Hospital Boston. Moreover, many kids now specialize early and pursue a
single sport through adolescence, rather than switching sports with the
season. When you do that, "you lose the benefit of cross-training,"
says Angela Smith, an orthopedic surgeon at the Children's Hospital of
Philadelphia. Focusing on all-around athleticism keeps the body
balanced and less vulnerable to injury.
There are ways to protect against both overuse and acute injuries.
Proper conditioning is crucial, says Avery Faigenbaum, a pediatric
exercise scientist at the College of New Jersey in Ewing. Teens new to
sports should start by getting in good overall shape—including working
on aerobic fitness, strength, and flexibility. "They need to be active
for 30 to 60 minutes most days of the week, for at least six to eight
weeks, before they get into sports. If not, it's an absolute setup for
injury," says Faigenbaum. On the other hand, serious teen athletes may
need to build more recovery time into their schedule, he says. Train
hard on some days, but go easier and work on recovery and technique on
alternate days, he recommends.
Technique is particularly important, says Kocher. Many young
pitchers, for example, improperly rely on their arms for power rather
than their trunk and legs. Done correctly, both strength training and
working on the core muscles of the back and abdomen may prevent injury
and boost performance. Sports-specific warm-up programs also can help;
one such program cut the rate of ACL injuries among female soccer
players, says Holly Silvers, a physical therapist and director of
research at Santa Monica (Calif.) Orthopedic and Sports Medicine Group
who helped develop the program. She's studying the effectiveness of
another specific warm-up, to help prevent sports hernias—painful tears
in the abdominal muscles—in male soccer players.
When an injury happens, its severity can be lessened by rest or
prompt treatment or physical therapy. The incorrect reaction, warns
Smith, would be to discourage teens from participating in sports. "The
risk of injury," she says, "is far outweighed by the benefits of
physical activity."
The completely
revised 2008 Ontario Physical Education Safety Guidelines have been released in
a new, interactive, easy to use website. The Safety Guidelines represent
the minimum standards for risk management practice for school boards, assisting
teachers, intramural supervisors and coaches to focus on safe practices. All 6
components (Elementary and Secondary Curricular, Intramural Clubs and
Activities and Interschool Athletics) have been updated.This process was lead by Ophea’sSafety Consultants and Ophea’s safety writing
team. Additional writing and reviewing support was provided by our partners
(OSBIE, OASPHE, OFSSA, and CIRA-ON) and numerous provincial sport organizations.
The new
online site, www.ontariosafetyguidelines.ca
, allows educators to search for a particular page or browse the complete
documents online. Users can also print by module. The site includes a
searchable FAQs database and safety and research feeds.
Requests to
revise or create new safety guideline documents will be accepted until October 31, 2008 for this
school year. Requests should be
submitted on the Request to Revise Application Form which can be found
within the safety guidelines website at www.ontariosafetyguidelines.ca
All applications must be filled out in their entirety and signed by a school
board official. Applicants will be notified of the status of their
applications by late November.
To access the newly revised
Guidelines or contact your school board for your login password visit www.ontariosafetyguidelines.ca
CBCnews.ca (Tuesday, October 21, 2008) published a follow-up story about the drowning of a young girl in the Ottawa area pool. Her father came to Canada in his twenties and had taken his daughter, who was unable to swim, to a pool only a couple of times. Although the cause of the drowning has not been determined, a Red Cross spokesperson commented that immigrants are a difficult group to reach with drowning prevention messages because of language and cultural differences. The Red Cross has been using ethnic radio shows and foreign-language materials such as bookmarks to reach this group of people.
Randy Starkman, Toronto Star journalist has been awarded the 2008 Pashby Sports Safety Award for his efforts to educate the public about catastrophic injuries in sports and recreational activities. The award is named in honour of Dr. Tom Pashby who received the Order of Canada for his 50 years of work in injury prevention.
Published: Friday, October 17, 2008, Canadian Press,
Thinkfirst
– Sudden Impact/Dive Smart DVD – A DVD on Diving Injury Prevention
To help a
new generation of teens, the Think First Foundation of Canada has developed two
diving safety education programs for elementary and high school students using
dramatization of realistic events with peer testimonials - now on DVD!
Sudden
Impact is intended for a high school student audience, age 12 years or older,
specifically in grades 7 to 12
Dive Smart
is intended for an elementary school audience, ages 6 – 12 years, in grades 1
to 6
Hockey Calgary imposed a new rule, which applies to about 3,000
coaches, trainers, development coaches and volunteers who work with
players aged five to 21 years requiring anyone who goes on the ice during minor hockey practices, to wear a helmet. Hockey Calgary president Perry
Cavanagh said trainers and volunteers are susceptible to falls, wayward
sticks and flying pucks -- all of which could cause serious head
injuries. In addition, the practice will provide good role modelling for younger players. Reported by The Calgary Herald, Sept 3.
The Peterborough Examiner (August 26, 2008 Posted By STEVE COAD) reports that when it comes to sports related injuries, there are children and teenagers
getting bumped and bruised and worse all across the country each year.
Statistics Canada currently reports more than 240,000 young people annually
sustain injuries while participating in sports.
Hockey produced the most injuries (11.7%; 28,000 injuries), followed by
baseball (10.1%; 24,600), basketball (8.2%; 19,900), soccer (7.4%; 17,800),
running (6%; 14,4000; recreational cycling (5.2%; 12,600); volleyball (4.5%;
11,000) and football (3.3%, 8,100).
Lisa Fischer, a primary care physician at the world-renowned Fowler Kennedy
Sport Medicine Clinic in London, Ont. said she and her fellow doctors see
"sprains, strains, concussions, overuse injuries -- although they're not as
common as in adults -- and growth plate problems," the latter of which occur
because children are active as they grow. Growth plates are the tissues at the
end of long bones.
Fischer estimates that about 40 per cent of the clinic's patients are under
age 18.
If injuries are part of sport, there are basic issues that ensure safer sport
for young people: equipment and facilities, coaching and parental attitudes.
Luc Tremblay, a professor in the department of physical education at the
University of Toronto who previously coached club gymnastics in Montreal, says
tremendous strides have been made in equipment and in changing the attitudes of
parents but wonders if sport does not have some inherent danger.
An issue in youth and kids' sport today is specialization, athlete's
concentrating one sport meaning an increase in the intensity of the sport and
the more continuous use of the same muscles and muscle groups, which leads to
overuse injuries.
What can parents and coaches do?
Parents should make sure their child's coaches have the appropriate
qualifications to supervise a particular sport, provide well-maintained safety
equipment, and help with proper conditioning for the sport. Youth sports should
always be fun.
Coaches and parents can prevent injuries by fostering an atmosphere of
healthy competition that emphasizes self-reliance, confidence, co-operation and
a positive self-image, rather than just winning.
According to Safe Kids Canada, between June and August, at least one
child will drown every two weeks, and each day there will be a
near-drowning incident. More than half of all drownings and
near-drownings happen to children under age five. Children in this age
group are involved in more drowning or near-drowning incidents than
those in any other age group and more than four times the rate of
incidents for those over the age of 19. Children aged five to nine
years old are the second most at-risk group. Young children are at high
risk because they are attracted to water, but do not fully understand
the dangers of the water or have the necessary maturity and skills to
independently play safely in or near water.
For the full text of this article, which appears on the Ontario Physical and Health Education Association's website click here. July 2008
The Canadian Press
(Mon 07 Jul 2008 Byline: BY LAURAN NEERGAARD) reports that injuries once seen mostly in
adult athletes are becoming distressingly common in youth athletes - not just in high school, but in
Little League and Pee Wee Football.
These aren't simple injuries. In the past decade, ``Tommy John'' surgeries to
repair elbows
blown out playing baseball - an operation named for a Hall of Famer - have
almost tripled among adolescents at a high-profile Alabama clinic, a meeting of
sports medicine specialists will be told by researchers this week.
Worse, some
injuries don't have good treatments for young patients. The surgery
that fixed the
torn ACL in Tiger Woods' knee, for instance, can thwart the growth of a young
child's leg.
Orthopedic surgeons say that today's youth sports are more intense, with players often
picking just one to specialize in as young as eight. And they can play and train
in some sports virtually year-round - with a school team, recreation league, travel league, summer camp.
More than 3.5 million children 14 and under
receive medical treatment for sports-related injuries each year in the United
States. Along with the typical sprains and strains are a lot of overuse injuries - stress fractures, tendonitis, cartilage damage.
Pitching offers a prime example. The Andrews clinic counts a five- to
six-fold increase in serious shoulder and elbow injuries in youth baseball and softball since 2000.
According to the American Association of Neurological Surgeons (AANS), the most recent statistics from the U.S. Consumer Product Safety Commission (CPSC) indicate that there were an estimated 319,000 sports-related head injuries treated in US hospital emergency rooms in 2006, an increase of 10,000 injuries from the year before.
This article from Medical News Today includes tips on how to prevent head and spinal cord injuries. Click here to access the full text of the article.
The Associated Press reports that two sports fields in New Jersey have been closed du eto unusually high lead levels in the artificial turf. The New Jersey Health Department found lead in two nylon fields (AstroTurf brand surfaces) that were tested but none in any of the 10 polyethylene fields. Turf industry spokespersons say the products are safe, but the Consumer Product Safety Commission is investigating.
KIDS HEALTH NOTES (Sat 05 Apr 2008 ) reports that a recent research study by the Nationwide Children's Hospital in Columbus on 16 years worth of Emergency Room data shows that about 27,000 injuries from gymnastics-related activities occur every year in the U.S. Most of them happen at school or a place of recreation or sports (as compared to a training center) where there may be lack of supervision although younger children (ages 6 to 11) are more likely to get injured at home. Arm and hand injuries are more common than those to the legs/ feet or head/neck, suggesting improper training in falling. Gymnastics activities, along with ice hockey, cause the most number of serious, catastrophic injuries.
Reuters Health (February 4, 2008) reports on a new survey that reveals nearly half of adolescent inline skaters, skateboarders and snowboarders say nothing would convince them to wear personal protective equipment. According to the Consumer Products Safety Commission, helmets could prevent or reduce the severity of nearly half of the 16,000 head injuries due to snowboarding and skiing that occur every year. Dr. Erica L. Kroncke of ThedaCare Physicians in Oshkosh and her colleagues surveyed 333, 13- to 18-year-olds about whether they used helmets, wrist guards, elbow pads, or knee pads (and goggles for snowboarders) when engaging in extreme sports. About two-thirds of the teens were male. Sixty percent of the inline skaters surveyed said they "never" or "rarely" used helmets, or only used them when they were required, compared to 65% of skateboarders and 72% of snowboarders. Percentages for other types of protective gear were higher, the researchers report in the Clinical Journal of Sports Medicine. Overall, snowboarders used the least protective gear, while boys and girls were equally likely to use protective gear. Discomfort was most common reason teens cited for not using protective equipment in all three sports, along with lack of perceived need. SOURCE: Clinical Journal of Sports Medicine, January 2008.
The City of Guelph is launching a new program called the Rzone - a code of conduct enforcing a set of expectations around violence, vandalism and inappropriate behaviour for participants in city programs and the general public. It is intended to improve the safety and leisure environment in all city recreational and cultural programs and is being offered in conjunction with the Guelph Youth Sports Advisory Council to enforce good conduct across all minor sports in Guelph facilities. Facilitators involved with the GYSAC will offer free training to coaches, volunteers and leaders in as many organizations as possible. Anyone attending a facility is asked to report incidents of violence, abuse, and vandalism to facilitators and city staff by filling out Rzone incident report forms. For more information visit www.guelph.ca/rzone .
CBC.CA News (Fri 25 Jan 2008 ) reports that a 5 year old girl was found unconscious in the playground at the Maritime Muslim Academy when her scarf got caught on the slide. She was taken to hospital and listed in critical condition but is expected to recover.
March 2008 - Artificial playing surface increases the injury risk in pivoting indoor sports: a prospective one-season follow-up study in Finnish female floorball by K Pasanen, J Parkkari, L Rossi, P Kannus
The study attested that the risk of traumatic injury in pivoting indoor sports is higher when playing on artificial floors than wooden floors. The higher shoe–surface friction on the former surface is likely to explain the higher injury risk
Published in British Journal of Sports Medicine 2008;42:194-197.
The Sault Star (ON, Sat 29 Dec 2007, Byline: Helen Branswell ) reported on a new study conducted by Dr. Charles Tator, a neurosurgeon at Toronto's University Health Network and the founder of ThinkFirst Canada, a charity devoted to prevention of traumatic brain and spinal cord injuries. The study found that traumatic brain and spinal injuries appear to be increasing on ski hills around the world possibly due to the increasing popularity of acrobatics and high speed on the slopes. Requiring skiers and snowboarders to wear helmets would help reverse the trend. Studies have shown that snowboarders are more likely than skiers to suffer serious injuries and males and skiers or snowboarders under age 35 were more likely to be injured.
Boys soccer league injuries: a community-based study of time-loss from sports participation and long-term sequelae ByToomas Timpka, Olof Risto and Maria Björmsjö
Background: Youth soccer is important for keeping European children physically active. The aim of this study is to examine injuries sustained in a community soccer league for boys with regard to age-related incidence, time lost from participation and long-term sequelae. Methods: Primary injury data was collected from a soccer league including 1800 players, comprising approximately 25% of all boys 13–16 years of age in three Swedish municipalities (population 150 000). Injuries were primarily identified based on a time loss definition of sports injury. At the end of the season, a physician interviewed every player who reported injured to determine whether there were any remaining sequelae. If a sequela was confirmed, the physician repeated the interview 6, 18 and 48 months after the end of the season. Results: Forty-four injuries were recorded during 18 720 player game hours (2.4 injuries per 1000 player game hours). The highest injury incidence (6.8 injuries per 1000 player game hours) was recorded in the first-year elite divisions. Thirty-two injuries (73%) were categorized as moderate-severe, and 21 injuries (48%) required medical attention. Eight injuries caused sequelae that remained 6 months after the end of the season, and 3 injuries caused sequelae that lasted 4 years after the injury event. <BR>Conclusion: An overall low injury rate makes soccer a suitable sport for inclusion in programmes that promote physical activity among children. When organizing soccer leagues for boys, injury prevention programmes should be provided to adolescent players when they begin playing in competitive divisions
Published in the Eur J Public Health. 2008; 18(1): p. 19-24
(NC)-Here's good news for small commercial vessel operators. A new lifejacket standard will soon bring new full body suits and jacket-type lifejackets to the market. While today's personal flotation devices (PFDs) are already flexible and comfortable to wear, operators of small commercial vessels will soon be able to choose from a range of approved equipment that combines the buoyancy of a lifejacket and comfort and thermal protection of a PFD. Transport Canada's Office of Boating Safety promotes lifejackets as the best insurance against drowning while boating. Operators of small commercial vessels should make sure their boat is equipped with enough Canadian-approved lifejackets that fit, for themselves and each of their passengers - before heading out on the water. Check out Transport Canada's boating safety Web site at: www.boatingsafety.gc.ca. Credit: www.newscanada.com
CBC.CA News (Fri 25 Jan 2008 ) reports that a 5 year old girl was found unconcious in the playground at the Maritime Muslim Academy when her scarf got caught on the slide. She was taken to hospital and listed in critical conditrion but is expected to recover.
The majority of sports injuries occur during practice rather than during games, so it is important that players wear protective gear whenever they play sports, including protecting their eyes. About 90% of all eye injuries could be prevented by wearing eye protection. Injuries occur from flying objects, finger pokes and jabs from elbows and arms.
Reported in the Chetwynd Echo (Fri 10 Aug 2007)
CBC.CA News (Sat 14 Jul 2007) reports on a study by Dr. Scott Delaney McGill's University Health Centre which found that 53% of soccer players between the ages of 12 and 17 who did not wear helmets had concussions. It also found that girls and young women who didn't wear headgear increased the risk of abrasions, lacerations or contusions on the head and face.
The Guelph Mercury (Wed 18 Jul 2007 ) reports that city staff will be setting up a working group to consider changes to rules about wearing personal safety equipment in city-owned facilities & parks. The decision follows the death of a boy from a fatal head injury during a game of pick-up hockey in St. George's Park during the past winter. Focus of discussions will be on risk assessment and injury prevention with a report before the coming winter season.
Barrie Examiner (ON, Thu 19 Jul 2007, Byline: RAYMOND BOWE) reported on new data from the Canadian Institute for Health Information, which says that 23 children per day visit hospital emergency rooms in Ontario - up from 2002, but the number of serious injuries has dropped. Children aged 5 - 9 receive the most injuries and thebroken arms, wrists and elbows are the most common type of injuries.
The Record (Kitchener, Cambridge and Waterloo, Fri 20 Jul 2007) reports that a new study published yesterday in the British Journal of Sports Medicine found that young elite tennis players may be more vulnerable to spinal injury than expected. In the study, 28 of 33 players aged 16 - 23 had spinal abnormalities identified in MRI test results, including spinal disc degeneration, herniated discs, complete fractures and stress fractures known as pars lesions. Lower-back injuries are the third most common type of tennis-related injury after those to the lower and upper limbs.
Andrée Kromström, Quebec Coroner reporting on 2 drownings in 2005 has recommended that swim lessons be made mandatory in all Quebec schools. She said that, in a province with so many lakes and rivers, it is essential that people know how to swim and basic lifesaving skills, and asked the province to ensorse Red-Cross style instruction in schools.
Reported by CBC.CA News (Fri 20 Jul 2007]
Metroland - Mississauga Division ( The Mississauga News Fri 20 Jul 2007 ) reports that the City will be implementing an allergy awareness initiative in its facilities to deal with anaphylaxis reactions to milk, eggs, fish, shellfish, soy, sesame and wheat. Measures will include:
More first aid training for all staff including administration of Epi-Pens and Twin-Jects Educational posters and brochures in facilities
Training for food staff about cross-contamination, and how to answer questions about ingredients in food
For more information contact John Lohuis
The Orillia Packet and Times (ON, Sat 28 Jul 2007, Byline: Nathan Taylor) reports that swing sets from 6 parks in the town have been taken down following the collapse of one at Victoria Park when it was being used by a 17 year old man who was taken to hospital with unknown injuries. Police are investigating to see if the swing was tampered with or if the bolts let go. The affected swing sets are manufactured by Belaire Recreational Products.
Published in J Am Dent Assoc, Vol 138, No 8, 1121-1126.
Authors: Nestor Cohenca, DDS, Rafael A. Roges, DDS and Ramon Roges, DDS
Background. The use of protective devices such as mouthguards during participation in contact sports may be effective in reducing the incidence or severity of dental injuries.
Methods. Dental injuries reported to the athletic department at the University of Southern California, Los Angeles, were recorded from 1996 through 2005. The authors classified each injury and determined the severity of the injury. Severity was defined in relation to the treatment required and the prognosis of the teeth and supporting tissues involved.
Results. Fifty-one traumatic dental injuries were reported. Basketball was the sport with the highest injury rate; it had an incidence rate (IR) of 10.6 injuries per 100 athlete-seasons among men, and an IR of 5.0 injuries per 100 athlete-seasons among women. The IR for men’s basketball players was five times higher than that for football players for whom mouthguard use is mandatory.
Conclusions. Given the relatively high incidence of dental injury in basketball and the potential of mouthguard use to reduce the incidence and severity of the trauma, mandatory use of mouthguards among collegiate basketball players should be considered.
Clinical Implications. Dental professionals have a responsibility to educate patients and the public about the importance of using mouth-guard protection in contact sports.
From News Canada
Used for recreation or as part of daily life in rural areas, ATVs and dirt bikes are growing in popularity in communities right across the country.
To help ensure riders stay safe on the trails, the power sports team at Canadian Tire has the following safety recommendations:
- ATV's and dirt bikes are intended for off-road use only. Riders should check applicable local laws and insurance regulations and ride only when and where permitted.
- When riding, wear sturd
