NSTAR is honored to work with Children's Hospital Boston to bring important safety information to the communities we serve.
As a service to you, and to help raise awareness about sports related injuries among young athletes and how to prevent them, we're pleased to provide some valuable safety information compiled by members of the Children's staff:
- Make sure to use appropriate protective equipment for each sport, such as pads, helmets, gloves, etc. Also make sure all equipment fits properly. Do not purchase equipment children need to grow into.
- Helmets should fit snugly and evenly on the child's head and should not tilt forward or backward. If necessary, adjust foam fittings inside and tighten chinstraps as snug as possible.
- All equipment should be in good working condition. Any damaged equipment should be repaired or replaced. Some sports equipment (for example football helmets) are required to meet national certification standards. Check with a salesperson or manufacturer if you have questions.
- Should a child get injured, ensure ample time is given to recovery and rehabilitation.
- Make sure your child is physically fit enough to participate in a particular sport. Your physician can help by administering a sports physical to determine which sports are appropriate.
- Make sure your child drinks plenty of fluid while exercising and avoid drinks with carbonation and caffeine. One cup of water every 15 to 20 minutes should keep your child hydrated.
