Spring Sports and Head Injuries: What are the True Facts?

Statistics paint a sobering picture of the health hazards spring sports pose. The American Association of Neurological Surgeons reports that of the 446,788 sports head injuries treated at emergency rooms in 2009, 28,716 involved water sports, 85,389 involved cycling, and 38,394 involved baseball and softball. Other activities associated with warmer weather, such as horseback riding, skateboarding and trampoline jumping, carry a risk of head injuries as well.

A traumatic brain injury occurs when the head receives a hard blow or when an object breaks the skull and pierces brain tissue. Mild cases result in a brief change in consciousness; severe cases can cause coma or death.

Victims of brain injuries manifest a broad scope of symptoms, including headaches, dizziness, nausea, incoordination, seizures, and difficulty expressing words or thoughts. In addition, they experience disturbances in cognition, such as disorientation, confusion and short attention span.

Prevention Tips

• Wear a helmet when engaging in sports.
• Don’t dive in water less than 12-feet deep.
• Avoid wearing clothing that can obstruct vision.
• Refrain from cycling or skateboarding on uneven or unpaved surfaces.
• Make regular safety checks on sports fields and equipment.
• Take breaks, and avoid playing when ill or tired.
• Strictly follow rules against headfirst sliding in baseball and softball.
• Obey rules at swimming pools and water parks.

Children and young adults sadly frequently fall victims to head injuries. For more prevention tips, see Teaching Kids How to Avoid Sports-Related Head Injuries.

Call our Washington D.C. brain injury attorneys for a free consultation about your potential case.