Increase in Teen Emergency Room Visits
According to a recent Associated Press article, a study looking at 10 years of national data has found that emergency room visits for teen athletes have tripled.
Experts say, according to the article, that one reason emergency room concussion reports have increased is due to heightened awareness of head injuries. However, they also attribute the increasing intensity of kids’ sports as a contributing factor in the rise of ER visits.
The authors of the study, published online in the journal Pediatrics, reportedly recommend that kids who experience a head injury should seek medical attention. Further, they suggest, according to the article, that the kids not return to play until all symptoms of the injury are gone.
More information can be found at:
Pediatrics: http://www.pediatrics.com
American Academy of Pediatrics: http://www.aap.org
CDC: http://www.cdc.gov/concussion/HeadsUp/youth.html
