When Winter Fun Goes Wrong

One of the most common injuries to kids while skiing, sledding and snowboarding isn’t a broken leg or a sprained wrist — it’s a concussion. You can take steps to help prevent injury, but if your child does get hurt, The Children’s Hospital is here to help.

When you are bundling up your children for outdoor activities this winter, don’t forget a helmet, which is the easiest way to protect kids from head injury. However, even when children have helmets, sometimes the tricky part is getting kids to wear them.

“I can’t stress enough the importance of helmets, and one great way for parents to ensure their children wear helmets is to wear one yourself,” said Michael Kirkwood, PhD, Neuropsychologist, Co-director of the Concussion Program at The Children’s Hospital. “Children are much more likely to use safety gear if they see their parents being safe, and you can make it more fun by decorating your child’s helmet with stickers.”

When Injury Strikes

When families participate in winter sports or other outdoor activities, children should stay on hills or courses that are appropriate for their skill levels, and physical activity should stop before they are tired. According to Dr. Kirkwood, injuries are more likely when children have become physically fatigued, so watch your child’s energy level and encourage him or her to take breaks every 20 to 30 minutes.

If your child experiences a mishap on the slopes, the Concussion Program at Children’s offers a full line of services to evaluate, diagnose and treat children with head injuries.

“A concussion can affect a child’s behavior and cognitive abilities,” Dr. Kirkwood said. “That’s why we offer neuropsychological evaluations to help detect problems with thinking or academics, develop treatment plans to help get kids back on track with school and sports and work with pediatricians and family physicians to decide when it’s safe for children to return to physical activity.”

All head injuries should be taken seriously. While children usually recover well from concussions, proper evaluation and treatment are very important to prevent potential complications.

“Parents always ask when they should bring their children to the hospital to be examined, and I tell them to talk with their pediatrician’s office after any head injury but that they can call or arrange an appointment any time they have concerns,” Dr. Kirkwood said. “For most children, problems should clear up within a couple of days or a couple of weeks, depending on the injury. However, staff members in the Concussion Program are available to consult whenever there are questions or problems.”

For more information about the Concussion Program at The Children’s Hospital, visit www.thechildrenshospital.org/concussion or call (720) 777-2806.