Each year an average of 4,300 children attend the Princess Margaret Hospital Emergency Department (PMH ED) due to a sports-related injury. This accounts
for 22.5% of all injury presentations to the PMH ED.

Older children aged between 10 and 14 years are at greater risk of sustaining a sports-related injury. This is possibly due to a decrease in rule modification
as children get older and a higher number of older children participating in competitive sports in comparison to younger children. Males also account
for two thirds of all sports-related injuries.

Sport and physical activity are a vital part of childhood development, allowing children to improve physical, cognitive and social skills with others.
Injury risks however, are often perceived as a barrier to participation. An estimated 50 percent of sporting injuries are considered to be preventable.

Australian Rules Football is the most commonly recorded activity associated with sporting injuries, followed by soccer, basketball, rugby and netball.

Common injury presentations include sprains and strains, fractures, bruising, cuts, dislocations and internal injuries.
These are most commonly sustained to the upper and lower limbs as well as the facial, head and neck/torso areas.

To reduce your child’s risk of sports-related injury Kidsafe WA recommend the following:

• Ensure your child wears appropriate protective equipment for their chosen sport. This may include mouthguards, eyewear, helmets, protective padding,
  footwear and gloves.
• Drink water to stay hydrated while participating in sporting activities
• Always warm up and cool down before and after sporting activities.
• Children should participate in sports that have modified rules and equipment appropriate to their development. Modified sports include AusKick, Minkey,
  NetSetGo and Kanga Cricket.
• Do not allow children to play sport while tired, ill or injured. Ensure the appropriate recovery time is allocated.
• Sporting grounds and facilities should be checked regularly for damaged playing surfaces, fencing, lights, posts, padding and rubbish.

For more information on how to protect your children from injury visit: www.kidsafewa.com.au