Hitting head on diving board a common injury for kids
06.08.2008 00:03
Health
- Source: cbc.ca
 The Canadian Red Cross says backyard pools are the source of most diving-related injuries. (Associated Press) Children diving into backyard pools risk serious injury, and their parents and coaches need to do more to keep them safe, say researchers who tracked diving injuries in the U.S. Children aged 10 to 14 are at most risk, said the team from the Nationwide Children's Hospital in Columbus, Ohio. Over a 15-year-period, there were 111,000 diving-related injuries among those aged 19 and under in the U.S. that required treatment at emergency rooms. Almost half of the injuries happened when a diver struck the board. Head, neck and face injuries accounted for about 60 per cent of diving-related injuries, and lacerations and soft tissue injuries were the most common, the researchers reported in Monday's issue of the journal Pediatrics A terrifying example occurred at the World Championships in 2005, when 17-year-old American diver Chelsea Davis shattered bones in her face. Canadian and U.S. experts fear the arrival of the Olympics may make things worse, if children try to mimic what they see their diving heroes perform on TV. "Accidents happen," said Kateryna Kordyukova, a diving coach in Toronto. "Kids hit their feet their hands, and that's mostly when they are playing around." High diving platforms may seem to be the riskiest, but that's not where most accidents happen. More than 80 per cent of diving injuries occurred from a height of less than, or equal to, one metre. "Parents, pediatricians, coaches, lifeguards and trainers need to be aware of the types of injuries seen during recreational and competitive diving, as well as the risk factors," said Lara McKenzie, the study's main investigator. According to statistics from the Canadian Red Cross, most injuries occur when people are using diving boards in backyard pools. To prevent injuries, researchers recommend: - Educating divers about the hazards of diving into shallow water from the edge of the pool.
- Building soft-bottom pools.
- Removing obstacles from lakes, rivers and oceans.
- Teaching proper diving techniques.
- Including lifeguards and trainers at the pool side.
As the Olympics approach, Diving Canada hopes the Games will raise interest in the sport, but warns children should stick to the basics. With files from Canadian PressStory Tools: E-MAIL | PRINT | Text Size: SMLXL | REPORT TYPO | SEND YOUR FEEDBACKRelatedInternal LinksCBC Olympics Spinal cord specialists warn of diving perilsVideo Melanie Nagy reports: Hitting head on diving board common injury for kids (Runs: 1:56)Play: Real Media »Play: QuickTime »External LinksAbstract of diving injury study, PediatricsCenter for Injury Research and Policy, Nationwide Children's Hospital(Note: CBC does not endorse and is not responsible for the content of external sites - links will open in new window) Health HeadlinesOne cigarette can get some people hooked: studyIt may take just one tobacco cigarette for some people to get addicted to nicotice because of how their brains are wired, a Canadian study suggests.Kids in U.S. still taking cough and cold meds despite warningsAbout one in 10 children south of the border take cough and cold medications in any given week, new data shows.Hitting head on diving board a common injury for kidsChildren diving into backyard pools risk serious injury, and their parents and coaches need to do more to keep them safe, say researchers who tracked injuries in the U.S. End routine prostate cancer screening in men over 75: U.S. task forceDoctors should stop routine prostate cancer screening of men over 75 because there is more evidence of harm than benefit, a U.S. federal task force advised Monday in a new blow to a much scrutinized medical test. Psychotherapy gives way to drugs: U.S. studyA new study finds a significant decline in psychotherapy practised by U.S. psychiatrists. Health FeaturesIN DEPTHPhthalatesAre chemicals that make plastic bendy a health hazard?AIDS RESEARCHLife expectancyBig jump in survival rates for those on HIV drugsIN DEPTHNanotechnologyReally, really small stuff that's really big. But is it safe?ANOTHER VIEWDrugs and drivingNew law a 'positive step', analyst saysHEALTH & FITNESSPeter HadzipetrosBreaking up's not that hard to doPeople who read this also read …
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