According to the Journal of the American Academy of Pediatrics, up to 3.8 million recreation- and sports-related concussions occur in the United States every year – with concussions in adolescent age groups accounting for the majority.¹  This is a serious issue.

That’s why Dick’s Sporting Goods created PACE,  or Protecting Athletes through Concussion Education. Through PACE, Dick’s Sporting Goods will supply up to one million young athletes across more than 3,300 middle and high schools nationwide with ImPACT software, the first, most-widely used, and scientifically-validated computerized concussion evaluation system.  It is a computerized, neurocognitive assessment tool and service that is used by medical doctors, psychologists, athletic trainers, and other licensed healthcare professionals to assist them in determining an athlete’s ability to return to play after suffering a concussion.

If you a parent of an athlete, coach, teacher or school administrator at a middle school or high school, this is a GREAT OPPORTUNITY to apply for some state-of-the-art concussion software which can help combat concussions in youth sports and make a difference in the life of an athlete.  Schools NEED TO APPLY in order to get the software, but applying is easy! Here’s how you do it: visit http://www.mydickssportinggoods.com/pace/ and click “Submit Your School” on the left-hand side.

It’s on a first-come, first-serve basis, so if your school qualifies and the application is approved, it could become one of the 3,300 middle and high schools getting FREE software in the largest concussion baseline testing initiative ever created.

Here are more resources on youth sports concussions:

• Concussions More Prevalent in Girls Sports
• Mouthguards A Must for Field Sports - did you know a well fitted mouthguard actually helps protect your child from a concussion?
• CDC – Heads Up in Youth Sports – Head Injury resources and activities for coaches, parents and athletes
• Determining Return to Play After Concussion in Youth Sports- Leave This To A Physician!
• What Every Sports Parent Should Know About New Concussion Legislation

It is officially tick season in our area – typically considered to be April to September in most of the south eastern United States. In the past two weeks my son has found two ticks on himself and we have removed countless ticks from the cat (which tells me we need to switch flea/tick medicine).

The first tick we found on the back of my son’s knee (see picture to right). It was so tiny but it had obviously been there a day or so because of the redness around the tick. Usually when we find a tick we just remove it with tweezers, apply anti-biotic cream and a bandage, and observe it for a few days. Unfortunately with this one, the tick was so tiny and so well embedded, I had no choice but to take my son to the doctor and have the doctor remove it and then put him on a round of anti-biotics – just in case.

What Are Ticks?

Ticks - photo from NIH.gov via Medline Plus

Ticks are small blood sucking insects – actually classified like spiders – that crawl and attach themselves to animals and humans to feed. They are notorious for transferring diseases from animals to humans and are found in tall grassy or deep forested areas.

How to Prevent Tick Bites

The best ways to prevent tick bites in the first place are to wear long pants and long sleeved clothing when hiking through the woods, wear insect repellent that contains DEET, and always inspect your body – arms, legs, torso – for ticks when coming in from the woods.

What to Do If You Find a Tick

If the tick has not gotten all comfy on your body yet, they can be fairly easy to remove with a pair of tweezers. Make sure you get as close to the tick’s head as possible before pulling it out – you don’t want to leave part of the tick in the skin. Next wash the area with soap, apply an anti-biotic cream and a bandage. Observe the area for signs of redness and if the person affected is not feeling well, go to the doctor and have it checked.

Some people recommend putting the removed tick in a ziploc baggie and saving it in the freezer, just in case the person affected gets ill, so doctor’s can test the tick for Lyme Disease and other diseases. Never try to burn off a tick or smother it in any chemical substance.

If the tick looks to have been embedded for more than 24 hours, the area around the tick bite is red, or the tick is too small to easily remove – GO TO THE DOCTOR’S office right away. This is definitely one situation where you are better off to be safe than sorry! We have had friends get very ill from tick bites – it’s just not worth the risk.

For more information on ticks, the diseases they carry and how to deal with them safely, check out:

• Medicine.net
• Ticks and Tick Borne Diseases – very informative presentation by the Virginia Department of Health
• Be wary of the bloodsuckers as tick season arrives from Roanoke.com

Crocs are cool and they are very comfy, but there have been increasing reports of the colorful, flexible shoes getting caught in escalators and causing foot injuries to their young wearers.

The rubbery shoes are particularly dangerous when worn on escalators because they can get wedged between the edge of the escalator and the moving stairs. Kids are particularly at risk due to their small size/weight and the fact that most kids tend to move around or fidget when riding on escalators.

The increase in injuries has prompted the Washington Metro subway service and American Girl Place, among others, to post Crocs warning signs near their escalators. The Crocs company, however, is taking credit for raising escalator safety awareness in the wake of the injuries.

For more information, here are few news stories:

• Boy Wearing Crocs is Hurt on Escalator
• Crocs Reported to Cause Injury on Escalator 
• Parents Worried About Crocs-Escaltor Accidents 

Next time you take the kids to the mall, leave the crocs at home.

Last week a friend of mine was at the park with her kids and was pushing her 3 year old on the swing when the little girl unexpectedly fell backwards off the swing. She hit her head on the playground surface. Her Mother held her and consoled her, and she was not bleeding, but she had bumped her head pretty hard. Since there was no blood and kids tend to be resilient, my friend opted to take the wait and see approach rather than rush to the ER.

About 30 minutes later her daughter started vomiting, and at that point there was no question that she was taking her daughter in that instant. As it turns out, the little girl suffered a concussion.

According to Dr. Gwenn of Pediatrics Now:

Head injury can cause external injuries to the scalp or skull as well as internal injuries to the brain such as bruises, bleeding, and concussions. Any internal brain injury can be serious but concussions are the most common and can be the least obvious. A concussion occurs when the brain is shaken causing a temporary disruption in how the different nerves talk to each other, similar to a power surge at home. Symptoms vary and often include seeing stars, being dazed, blurred vision, nausea and occasionally amnesia. With more serious concussions, headache, vomiting, balance problems and changing levels of consciousness may occur. Contrary to popular belief, it is possible to have a concussion without loosing consciousness and even minor head injury can cause concussions.

The little girl spent a few days in the hospital under careful watch from her doctors and while she is feeling good now, she has to go back for a follow up CT scan before she will get a clean bill of health.

Help prevent head injuries by requiring your children to wear helmets when riding bikes, scooters, and skates. Educate yourself and your child on head injury risks in the sports they play – and how to minimize the risk. If your child has had a head injury, do not rush a return to activity. Consult with your family doctor for guidance on when to return to activities.

For more information on head injuries in children, I recommend Dr. Gwenn’s post on head injuries at Pediatrics Now.