I am often called the “Safety Lady” in my neighborhood and I take great pride in that, despite my girl’s embarrassment. I am a pediatric trauma injury prevention coordinator for Children’s Hospital, and summer is the hardest time of year for me. Now that the weather is getting warmer and school is almost out, we will unfortunately begin to see a lot more kids being admitted to the hospital.

One area of concern for those in field is the use of trampolines.

Are trampolines something to have fun on or something to be feared?  According to the American Academy of Pediatrics, trampolines are simply too dangerous for children to use outside of a structured sports training program with proper supervision. Citing nearly 100,000 trampoline-related injuries in 2009, the Academy noted that installing safety nets and having adults nearby do not seem to affect the occurrence of injuries.

Parents often view trampolines simply as recreational equipment that keeps children busy, but trampolines are not toys. Injuries on trampolines can have very dangerous ramifications. Research shows that 75 percent of trampoline injuries occur when more than one person is jumping on the mat. The youngest kids are at greatest risk for significant injury, including fractures of the legs and spine.

To repeat: the AAP recommends avoiding recreational trampoline use entirely.

In spite of these warnings, kids love bouncing on them and in my neighborhood almost every other home has them. Trampoline injuries are not just freak accidents. They follow a pattern and may be prevented.

If parents choose to allow their children to jump on trampolines, the academy says that:

• Trampoline use should be restricted to a single jumper on the mat at any given time.
• Trampolines should have adequate protective padding that is in good condition and appropriately placed.
• Trampolines should be set at ground level whenever possible or on a level surface and in an area cleared of any surrounding hazards.
• Frequent inspection and appropriate replacement of protective padding, net enclosure, and any other damaged parts should occur.
• Trampolines should be discarded if replacement parts are unavailable and the product is worn or damaged.
• Children should not perform somersaults and flips in the recreational setting; these are among the most common causes of permanent and devastating cervical spine injuries.
• Children should be actively supervised at all times by adults familiar with these safety guidelines.
• Homeowners should verify that their insurance policies cover trampoline-related claims. Coverage is highly variable.

If you do decide to purchase or use a trampoline this summer, remember that it is not as harmless as it may seem.

Read the complete AAP policy.

Recently I’ve noticed an increase in news coverage about concussions and traumatic brain injuries related to sports. Having a soccer star (well, she’s only 11) in our family, I worry about her getting hurt all the time. March is Traumatic Brain Injury Month and it is a good opportunity to remind ourselves as parents that traumatic brain injuries can occur in many ways.

A traumatic brain injury (TBI) is caused by a blow or jolt to the head or a penetrating head injury that disrupts the normal function of the brain. The severity of a TBI may range from “mild,” which results in a brief change in mental status or consciousness, to “severe,” that causes an extended period of unconsciousness or amnesia after the injury.

Approximately 75 percent of TBIs that occur each year are concussions or other forms of mild TBI.

The Brain Injury Association of America reports that 1.7 million people sustain a TBI each year in the United States. This includes 475,000 children. TBIs are most often caused by falls (35 percent), followed by car crashes (17 percent), workplace accidents (16 percent), assaults (10 percent) and other causes (21 percent). In Tennessee alone, some 8,000 people are admitted to hospitals each year with a TBI, says the state Department of Health.

The Centers for Disease Control and Prevention offers tips to reduce risk of TBI including:

• Wearing a seat belt every time you drive or ride in a motor vehicle
• Buckling your child in the car using a child safety seat, booster seat, or seat belt (according to the child’s height, weight, and age)
• Wearing a helmet and making sure your children wear helmets when:
  • Riding a bike, motorcycle, snowmobile, scooter, or all-terrain vehicle
  • Playing a contact sport, such as football, ice hockey, or boxing
  • Using in-line skates or riding a skateboard
  • Batting and running bases in baseball or softball
  • Riding a horse
  • Skiing or snowboarding
• Making living areas safer for children by:
  • Installing window guards to keep young children from falling out of open windows
  • Using safety gates at the top and bottom of stairs when young children are around
• Reinforcing  safety behaviors like
  • Never leaving an infant alone while on a bed, furniture or changing table
  • Using safety straps when baby is on a changing table, bouncer, highchair or stroller
  • Keeping baby safe in a car seat by always fastening the harness even if using car seat as a carrier

Check out this video of one family’s story whose son was impacted by a traumatic brain injury.

I know we can’t protect our children from everything, but we can practice and encourage safe habits to keep their powerful brains safe for years to come.

What are some simple safety reminders you give your kids?

By Purnima Unni, Pediatric Trauma Injury Prevention Program Coordinator

October 14-October 20^th is National Teen Driver Safety Week!

This is an exciting yet scary time in our household. Our oldest daughter is in HIGH SCHOOL! She has made many friends, is doing great in her classes and is slowly but surely talking about the one thing she knows I am scared about: getting her learner’s permit.

The statistics on teen driving are pretty scary. Motor vehicle crashes are the leading cause of death for U.S. teens. According to the Center for Disease Control and Prevention, seven teens ages 16 to 19 died every day from motor vehicle injuries in 2010.

As parents it is important to ask: Is my teen “ready” to drive?

• Does your teen show good judgment in general?
• Is your teen able to resist peer pressure when it comes to risky behavior?
• Is your teen willing to follow not only state driving laws but also your rules?
• Does your teen seem comfortable and confident behind the wheel?

Many parents believe that their role in their teen’s driving ends as soon as he/she receives a driver’s license. In fact, this is precisely the time when your supervision is crucial. Per mile driven, teen drivers ages 16 to 19 are three times more likely than drivers aged 20 and older to be in a fatal crash.

As parents our first concerns are probably about speed and drinking and driving but there are some other critically important factors we must keep in mind. Here are some important tips that I learned and would like to share with you:

• If your state has a graduated driver licensing law, make sure you know what it is. This law applies to teen drivers and sometimes has stipulations on phone usage, texting and other restrictions that you may need to learn.
• Do not allow your teenager to drive with other teen passengers in the car until he or she is experienced behind the wheel. The presence of other teens in the car greatly increases the risk of a crash and the risk increases with each additional passenger.
• Practice driving skills with your teen. Do not assume they will know how to ride at night, in the rain or on the interstate. Mix the regular routine up and make them practice in different conditions till they are confident in their ability and more importantly you are confident that they can keep themselves and others on the roadway safe!
• Establish a parent teen driving contract with your teen.This driving contract will help parents and teens focus on safe driving habits. Parents and teens should sit down and discuss these recommendations. This way everyone knows the rules and sticks to them.
• Do not allow your teenager to use a cell phone or similar device while driving. Talking on the phone, even hands-free, increases the risk of a crash, too. Sign a family pledge.
• Be a good role model. Do not expect your teen to follow a rule you are not willing to follow yourself. Your teen is learning by watching your behavior behind the wheel.

I have certainly learned a lot in this process! If I have to spend a little bit more time working with my daughter to make sure she is a confident driver then it is worth the wait.

What discussions have you had with your teen about driving?

By Purnima Unni, Pediatric Trauma Injury Prevention Program Coordinator