Safety and Injury Prevention
Sports Safety - Injury Statistics and Incidence Rates
In the United States, about 30 million children
and teens participate in some form of organized sports, and more than
3.5 million injuries each year, which cause some loss of time of
participation, are experienced by the participants. Almost one-third of
all injuries incurred in childhood are sports-related injuries. By far,
the most common injuries are sprains and strains.
Obviously, some sports are more dangerous than
others. For example, contact sports such as football can be expected to
result in a higher number of injuries than a non-contact sport such as
swimming. However, all types of sports have a potential for injury,
whether from the trauma of contact with other players or from overuse
or misuse of a body part.
The following statistics are the latest available
from the National SAFE KIDS Campaign and the American Academy of
Pediatrics (AAP):
- More than 3.5 million children ages 14 and under get hurt annually playing sports or participating in recreational activities.
- Although death from a sports injury is rare, the leading cause of death from a sports-related injury is a brain injury.
- Sports and recreational activities contribute to approximately 21
percent of all traumatic brain injuries among American children.
- Almost 50 percent of head injuries sustained in sports or
recreational activities occur during bicycling, skateboarding, or
skating incidents.
- More than 775,000 children ages 14 and under are treated in
hospital emergency rooms for sports-related injuries each year. Most of
the injuries occurred as a result of falls, being struck by an object,
collisions, and overexertion during unorganized or informal sports
activities.
- Playground, sports, and bicycle-related injuries occur most often
among young children, between the ages of five and 9 years old.
- The highest rates of injury occur in sports that involve contact and collisions.
- More severe injuries occur in individual sports and recreational activities.
- Most organized sports-related injuries (62 percent) occur during practice.
Consider the most recent statistics from the SAFE KIDS Campaign:
- basketball
More than 205,400 children ages five to 14 were treated in hospital emergency rooms for basketball-related injuries.
- baseball and softball
Nearly 108,300 children ages five to 14 were treated in hospital
emergency rooms for baseball-related injuries. Baseball also has the
highest fatality rate among sports for children ages 5 to 14, with
three to four children dying from baseball injuries each year.
- bicycling
Nearly 285,000 children ages five to 14 were treated in hospital emergency rooms for bicycle-related injuries.
- football
Almost 185,700 children ages five to 14 were treated in hospital emergency rooms for football-related injuries.
- ice skating
Nearly 10,600 children ages five to 14 were treated in hospital emergency rooms for ice skating-related injuries.
- in-line skating
Nearly 27,200 children ages five to 14 were treated in hospital emergency rooms for in-line skating-related injuries.
- skateboarding
More than 50,000 children ages five to 14 were treated in hospital emergency rooms for skateboarding-related injuries.
- sledding
More than 15,000 children ages five to 14 were treated in hospital emergency rooms for sledding-related injuries.
- snow skiing/snowboarding
More than 35,000 children ages five to 14 were treated in hospital
emergency rooms for snow boarding and snow skiing-related injuries.
- soccer
About 75,000 children ages five to 14 were treated in hospital emergency rooms for soccer-related injuries.
- trampolines
Nearly 80,000 children ages 14 and under were treated in hospital emergency rooms for trampoline-related injuries.
- ice hockey
According to a study published in the journal Pediatrics, over 18,000
young people under the age of 18 were treated in Emergency Departments
for ice hockey-related injuries in 2001-2002.
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Disclaimer:
This information is not intended to substitute or replace the professional medical advice you receive from your child's physician. The content provided on this page is for informational purposes only, and was not designed to diagnose or treat a health problem or disease. Please consult your child's physician with any questions or concerns you may have regarding a medical condition.
Last reviewed on 10/4/2006