Sports Safety
Sports offer
plenty of physical activity for fitness and also teach you how to work
together with others as part of a team. Sports can teach you how to
make the right choices for yourself as well as for your team.
No matter
what sport you play, you need to always be sure you are using the right
safety gear and are using equipment that fits the right way. What safety
gear you will need changes with each sport you play, but most of the
time you'll need items like shin pads, helmets, mouth guards, elbow
pads, knee pads, shoulder pads, etc... Some sports use very little safety
gear and other sports use a lot depending on the amount of contact you
will make with other players. Here are some examples:
Using items
that do not fit the right way can cause injury to occur the same as
if you weren't wearing any at all. Here is an example: Riding a scooter,
skateboard, or using in-line skates would mean that you should wear
a helmet, elbow pads, knee pads and wrist guards. If your knee pads
were too big and too loose, then they could either ride up above or
below your knees if you fell down and your knees would still get scraped
up. The knee pads would not protect you the way that they are meant
to.
Look at the
following pictures:
| Who
is wearing the right safety gear? |
|
The first rider is wearing a helmet, and since he is not doing tricks,
he does not need pads for his elbows or knees. The second rider
is doing tricks and he is wearing elbow pads and knee pads, but
is not wearing a helmet. No matter what type of riding you do on
a bike, you should always wear a helmet to protect your head. |
|
 |
| Who
is wearing the right safety gear? |
| The girl
seems to have all the right safety gear. The boy looks like he could
use knee pads and elbow pads! |
|
|
| Who
is wearing the right safety gear? |
|
This boy looks like
he needs some elbow pads!
|
This boy is not
wearing any safety gear at all.
|
This boy is wearing
all the right safety gear.
|
Here are some general
safety tips for team sports:
Getting hurt while playing
a team sport can happen from tripping or falling, running into another
player, being hit with an object or from working your body too hard.
The right gear, safe fields
or play areas and the rules made to avoid getting hurt are all part of
keeping any sport safe for you to play and enjoy.
How to behave at a playground:
- Take off any bike helmets
before using playground equipment.
- Always wait your turn and
never push, shove or crowd others.
- Don't try to climb up the
wrong way on slides, always use the stairs. Get out of the way for others
as soon as you reach the bottom.
- Never stand on a swing
and do not walk too close to others when they are swinging, so that
you don't get injured.
- Do not try to use playground
equipment that is too hard for your age or skill level. If you are unsure,
always ask an adult for help.
How to stay safe while
riding your bike: 
- Always wear a helmet! A
helmet can help you to avoid hurting your head if you get into an accident.
Always be sure that your helmet fits the right way and that it meets
all of the latest safety rules. Helmets should not rock side to side
or back and forth.
- Make sure you fit on the
bike that you ride. Your feet should be able to touch the ground when
you are seated on the bike. One of your parents should check your brakes
and tires every so often for you and you should always let them know
if you think something seems wrong with your bike.
- Until you can show that
you know the rules of the road with traffic safety, you should not be
allowed to enter the street with your bike. The street should only be
used when it is the only place to ride. Remember, on the sidewalk, walkers
always have the right of way! Try to use a bike trail when it is an
option.
- Once you are allowed
to ride in the street, never ride your bike into the street without
stopping first to make sure there are no cars coming. Always take the
time to stop and look both ways for cars. You should stop, look left,
then look right and look left again before riding into the street. When
possible, walk your bike accross the street instead of riding it.
- Riding your bike in the
street is a big responsibility. Always follow traffic safety rules.
In the street, your bike needs to follow the same rules as cars. You
must follow all traffic signs and signals, so never ride through a stop
sign or a red light.
- Be aware of objects, bumps
or potholes in the road, they can cause you to lose your balance.
- You should not ride with
two people on a bike unless it is built for two!
- If you do tricks with your
bike, remember to wear the right safety gear and NEVER do tricks while
riding in the street!
- Don't ride your bike when
it is dark or getting dark outside. If you must ride at a time when
it is getting dark or is already dark, be sure that you use lights and
reflectors on your bike and that you also wear reflective material on
or over your clothes. Drivers of cars cannot see you in the dark and
it is up to you to make sure that they know you are there if you must
ride at night.
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