PARENTS PLACE

"Before you can grow old and wise you must first survive being young and stupid."

- Ancient Proverb

Welcome to the Parents Place. From time to time we'll place articles, tips and information here to not only help make your and your child's AYSO experience even better, but hopefully other items of interest to help the family life. Feel free to email me your comments, suggestions and even "stuff" you would like to share that we all may be of interest in.

Parents Introduction to AYSO Video

10 Things Kids Say They Don't Want Their Parents to Do

Lost & Found articles should be turned into/retrieved from the counter at the Jewett Park Community Center.

When Are Kids Too Sick To Play?

"You gotta play hurt," is a quote that does not apply to young athletes. Dr. Richardson gives you advice on when a child is too sick to play and what type of injuries you should keep an eye out for.

When kids just have a sniffle, it’s fine for them to play. However, once a bad cough or slight fever is present they shouldn’t play because it may be a virus. Viral infections increase the chance of injury since tendons and muscles tend to be tighter and more sensitive when the body is fighting a virus. Also, exercise can stress the immune system and lengthen or worsen the illness. Kids suffering from a virus can resume sports once they’ve been fever-free for 72 hours

Injury Symptoms

Concussion
Depending on severity, a concussion can cause serious harm.
Symptoms: headache dizziness, ringing in the ears, unconsciousness (even for only a few seconds), blurred vision, nausea, amnesia and/or hallucinations.

Heat Exhaustion
Left untreated, it could progress to heat stroke, which can be fatal without immediate attention and hospitalization.
Symptoms: lack of energy, dry mouth, flushed face, dark urine, headache, muscle cramps, and a high body temperature, confusion or unconsciousness.

Fracture
Fracture symptoms: painful, deformed and discolored limb (may or may not be present, especially with hairline and stress fractures), tears at moment of injury, swelling in localized area, firm fingertip pressure against injured part of bone causes significant pain.

Sprains
Sprains may cause swelling, but the pain and swelling are mainly over soft tissues between bones rather than right at the bone.

Overuse Injury*
More common now that kids may play sports year-round and specialize sooner (e.g., "swimmer’s shoulder," "gymnast’s back"). Undetected overuse injuries can progress to a fracture or can lead to a more serious ailment later in life. Symptoms: may feel pain and sometimes stiffness, swelling and redness over the course of several weeks; also may have clicking, snapping or a creaking sensation in the affected joint; child may voluntarily reduce use or refuse to use affected part.

Summer Safety: Heat Issues

Heat Cramps 

When a body loses too much water and salt through sweat, muscles tend to cramp (particularly in the abdomen and legs). Players suffering from these painful "heat cramps" should;

-    Rest in shade;

-    Sip one glass of cool water every 15 minutes until pain relents;

-     Massaging the affected muscles and applying cool wet cloths will also help.

Heat Exhaustion

Players with cool, moist or flushed skin, heavy sweating, headache, nausea, dizziness or muscle cramps may be experiencing heat exhaustion. This condition occurs when because of high humidity or restrictive clothing, sweat is not properly evaporated and the body cannot cool down;

-    Have player lie down in shade and elevate his/her feet;

-    Remove shoes, shin guards and socks,

-    Apply cold packs to the armpit and scalp areas;

-    Have player drink water or electrolyte solution;

-    Fan player to help evaporate sweat

IF PARENTS ARE ON HAND, they may also remove players shirt and apply cold packs to the groin area.

Heat Stroke

When a body completely loses the ability to cool itself, the internal temperature continues to rise resulting in heat stroke. If a player's temperature rises too quickly, brain damage and/or death may result. Players suffering from heat stroke may have hot, dry skin, those with fair complexions may appear red, while darker skinned people may appear gray. Victims may also experience a very rapid pulse and extremely high body temperature. In some cases, victims of heat stroke may seem confused, unresponsive or even suffer from seizures, Recovery from heat stroke depends on the amount of time it takes to return the body temperature to normal, so IMMEDIATE medical attention is imperative.

If you suspect heat stroke, CALL 911 IMMEDIATELY and follow recommended treatment for heat exhaustion BUT DO NOT attempt to give any liquids.

SAVE THAT TOOTH!

You don't have to lose a tooth when if it gets knocked out.

Lightly rinse tooth off, DO NOT SCRUB IT, and drop in a cup of milk. If not available, you can have player (depending on age) suck on it. This will keep the tooth alive until a dentist can replant it.