Traumatic Brain Injuries in Iowa Are on the Rise Due to Youth Sports

Many children play sports, including football, soccer, baseball and basketball among others. Although sports provide a way for children to get exercise, release energy, and become more coordinated, they are also dangerous.

According to the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention, about 135,000 children from age 5 to 18 are treated for sports-related brain injuries each year. Most of these sports injuries are concussions, which is a form of traumatic brain injury (TBI). Although car accidents are the leading cause of traumatic brain injuries, sports are the second leading cause of TBI for people under 24.

Because many youth sports, like football, cause concussions and other head injuries, they have become a subject of great concern. Sports-related concussions in Iowa and throughout this nation are more serious than once thought. When a child suffers one mild concussion, he or she may recover without any consequences. What about a child who suffers multiple concussions? Will that child be at risk for neurological disorders? Sadly, no one wants to think about this reality on the sidelines at the youth football game.

Brain Injuries, a Troubling Trend in Youth Sports

The Centers for Disease Control and Prevention released new figures this last October revealing that the number children under the age of 19 suffering head injuries in Iowa and around this nation has increased 62% in the last decade. The number of traumatic brain injuries went from 153,000 in 2001 to around 249,000 by 2009.

So, who is most at risk? Boys who participate in football and other high-impact sports account for 7 out of 10 cases. Parents of boys who play sports should be aware that one-fifth of all brain injuries affecting boys under the age of 19 have taken place on the football field.

What Can Be Done to Reduce a Child’s Risk of a Traumatic Brain Injury in Iowa?

Just because children are at risk for injuries doesn’t mean you have to take them out of the sport they enjoy and love. Children need to be active, but what the risk does mean is that parents need to be involved and aware of the risks of brain injuries while playing a contact sport. Parents need to make sure they understand the signs of concussions and that their children are using safety equipment to help minimize the potential for brain injuries in youth sports.

If your child suffers a blow that causes his head to spin, do not think that you can determine on your own if he has sustained a concussion. Instead of assessing the injury yourself, get your child to a doctor for medical evaluation.

If your child has suffered a traumatic brain injury in Eastern Iowa due to youth sports, please call a concerned and qualified Cedar Rapids catastrophic injury attorney at the Law Offices of Brady Preston Gronlund. We will provide you with a free discussion about your case to see if your child has rights to financial compensation after suffering a catastrophic injury. Call today at (319) 866-9277.