More than 3.5 million children ages 14 and younger get hurt each year playing sports. This statistic is enough to make us think twice about putting our little ones in sports and activities since eye care for kids is important.
Conversely, physical activity is beneficial for our kids and their health. This is especially true in an environment where electronics are becoming more and more common in their everyday lives.
Physical activity is important and sports teach our children about teamwork and discipline. While the statistic listed above may instill some fear when thinking about our little ones, it doesn’t have to. After all, there are plenty of ways eye care for kids can be practiced during these activities.
Preventative eye care for kids
Taking measures to protect your child’s eyes will make them safer on the field or court, and will also allow you, the parent or guardian, to sit back and watch with less worry.
That being said, here are some ways you can protect your child before the game or practice begins:
– Check the area for hazards – Check for low-hanging branches or any debris on or around the field. Warm your child to take caution around these areas.
– Protect their eyes – Make sure your child wears the appropriate facemask or eye protection for their sport. If wearing any type of glass or plastic shield, make sure it is made of polycarbonate material, or something that won’t break.
– Don’t allow broken equipment – Don’t let your child storm onto the field with broken equipment that puts them at risk.
– Educate them – Teach your kids the rules of the game or activity they are playing to prevent injury. For example, if a child is playing baseball, make sure they always have their eye on the ball when in play, regardless of where it is on the field.
What to do if an injury occurs
Eye care for kids doesn’t stop with prevention, but also involves parents and guardians being vigilant and ready to move should anything happen.
To ensure injuries are treated properly and damage in the event of an accident is minimal, we suggest the following:
– For cuts or punctures to the eye, make sure you do not remove the stuck object or attempt to move the eye in any way. Try to keep the child as calm as possible and call 9-1-1 immediately.
– If a cut occurs around the eye, apply an ice pack or something cold to the affected area. If there is a laceration, apply pressure to stop the bleeding. And always be aware that head injuries could result in head trauma so move around the area gingerly.
– Tiny objects that get in the eye will need to be flushed. Do not rub the eye as this can cause further damage to the eye. Allow tears to form and see if the eye will naturally flush itself. If not, cover the eye and seek medical attention.
Protect your child’s vision whenever possible
Sometimes we want to wrap our kids in a bubble to protect them from the world. Unfortunately, that’s not possible. What we can do, though, is provide them with the above-listed precautionary measures and safety advice to prevent the worst from happening.
Eye care for kids is our passion. If you have questions or concerns about your child and their sports or related injuries, we would be happy to help. Contact us today.