ACCIDENTS AT PLAY
It seems like we’ll do anything for kicks. Careen down rocky mountain trails on a bicycle? You bet. Strap skis to our feet and get dragged behind a boat? Sounds like a blast. Surprisingly (and fortunately), as reckless and dangerous as the activities we call sport may sound, they don’t often kill us. More often, they just beat the crap out of us.
Plenty of weekend warriors are injured in sports like basketball, bicycling, football, and Softball. They’re rarely deadly, but collectively, they report astronomical injury rates, which is where the trouble really lies. We hardly have to tell you that, even if injuries don’t kill you, they can sure take their toll on your body over time. And serious injuries, such as those to the head, neck, or back, can cause permanent debilitating problems like brain damage and paralysis.
“That’s why we encourage people to take just a few minor precautions during their recreational activities,” says Dr. Jeffrey Sacks of the National Center for Injury Prevention and Control.
By following a few basic rules, you can put your safest foot forward next time you step out to play.
Put the beer on ice. Alcohol is an enormous factor in recreational injuries, Dr. Sacks says. So don’t be stupid. “When you’re drowning from a waterskiing incident because you’re drunk, that’s no accident. That’s preventable. Save the beer for afterward,” says Dr. Sacks.
Get in gear. “Some men always seem surprised by their concussions, as if you can’t bruise your brain playing backyard football,” Dr. Sacks says. “A helmet is the best protection you can get for riskier activities, especially football, biking, and other wheel sports like inline skating.”
Take charge. We have a whole industry devoted to “adventure travel” where people do relatively risky activities rather safely, says Dr. Alton Thygerson of Brigham Young University and the National Safety Council’s First-Aid Institute. “That’s because the folks in charge know what they’re doing. You can help prevent being another accident statistic by learning the fundamentals of an activity before you start, especially ones that involve some risk like water sports or mountain biking.”
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