Every hour in this country, 50 kids land in the emergency room due to broken bones/fractures or head injuries from bike, scooter, skateboard, or hoverboard accidents (Safe Kids Worldwide).
And experts say that number could actually increase with the official start of summer. Their reasoning here is two-fold.
First, more kids are outside playing now that they are not in school. And secondly, the hotter temperatures could make a child’s body more prone to injury.
In Central Texas, we have already experienced a few triple digit days. This excessive heat could quickly lead to dehydration and exhaustion in a kiddo, ultimately weakening their strength and resilience and causing them to slip, trip, or fall when playing hard.
A child’s young system is not as efficient yet as an adult’s in terms of sweating and perspiration which cools you down, so as they get hot, much of that heat gets trapped inside their little bodies. This can cause muscles and bones to break down a bit and not function as well.
In addition, kids aren’t always vigilant in remembering to hydrate and drink a ton of water throughout the day. Stopping for a sip of water may be frowned upon if they are in the midst of a super fun game or bike ride.
Here are some simple tips from Texas Orthopedics to keep your children hydrated:
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Encourage water breaks every 20 minutes while playing outside. Set a timer if you have to.
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Offer them fruits and veggies with a high-water content for snacks. Good options include watermelon, peaches, berries, cucumbers, and carrots.
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Frozen, 100 percent juice or fruit pops are also a tasty choice
Texas Orthopedics reminds parents that physical protection is paramount too, especially when playing on something with wheels … bikes, scooters, skateboards, and hoverboards. Children should wear properly fitting helmets at all times. And consider adding protective elbow and knee pads if they are heading out on rough terrain.
