I’m a nervous mom. I don’t want my kid taking up figure skating, ice hockey, or even field hockey.
But I was surprised to find out the top sport for sending kids to the emergency room—according to a Loyola University Study based on 2005 data from the U.S. Consumer Product Safety Commission—is basketball.
Huh?
Turns out, kids who play basketball at school or even in the driveway are at risk of the same knee injuries that derail NBA careers. The good news is most injuries can be prevented with proper training and supervision. And catastrophic injuries in kids’ sports—think little Bonnie on her pony in Gone With the Wind—are extremely rare.
There are other surprises on Loyola’s top ten list besides basketball and even more shocking, some sports that are traditionally considered dangerous (hockey, anyone?) are notably absent from the list.
1. Basketball
More than half a million kids went to the ER in just one year with injuries sustained playing hoops. Damage to the anterior cruciate ligament, or ACL, is a common injury and any sport involving twisting, jumping, pivoting, squatting, or making sudden stops puts kids at risk. Proper coaching is a must.
2. Bicycling
Yes, that favorite pastime sent more kids—485,669 to be exact—to the ER than football. Wearing a helmet greatly reduces risk as does educating children about the dangers of riding in traffic.
3. Football
This sport sent more than 418,200 kids to the ER. Sports injury statistics vary based on methodology, and the Center for Injury Research and Policy found football to be the leading cause of sports-related injuries among kids.
4. Soccer
The ball is soft, but the sport can be dangerous, with about 175,000 soccer-playing kids seeking aid at an ER. One culprit is portable soccer goals, which should be securely anchored to the ground.
5. Baseball
Today’s kids train hard and hit the ball hard, which is why some 155,000 Little Leaguers ended up in emergency rooms. Children should wear proper protective gear and be taught how to safely slide into bases and other fundamentals. With all warm-weather sports, heat exhaustion is also a threat.
