Dr. Thomas Vangsness - MonstersAndCritis.com
August 11, 2010
Dr. Vangsness' tips for parents of kids in sports, school season checklist
Have a kid in soccer football, baseball, basketball, wrestling, golf,
tennis or hockey?
A bit of preparedness can save a lot of grief and suffering from any
injuries your child sustains while participating in sports at school. Now that we are well into August and the new school year is upon us,
parents are running around the city looking for the latest or newest or
most popular clothing and gadgetry to prepare Junior for the school
year. But, this is also the time to update their home emergency health
kit.
With the popularity of sports and other after-school activities, children and teens at this time of year are more susceptible to injury on the playground or at the practice field. We live in a society where faster, stronger and tougher are applauded in games but there can be physical repercussions.
It is mandatory that all parents of active kids have the right tools on hand in case of an emergency.
World renowned sports medicine specialist Dr. Thomas Vangsness is a
Professor of Orthopaedic Surgery at the USC
Keck School of Medicine, a Board Certified Orthopedic Surgeon for over 20 years, a team
doctor for the world famous Trojans and an advisor to several medical
TV shows including “Grey’s Anatomy”.
Dr. Vangsness works closely with youths in
sports and is also the founder/ director of Inner City High School Team Physicians in Los Angeles. Monsters and Critics caught up with Dr. Vangsness, who has offered
out readers a useful list of what every parent should have in their home health kit: 1. Band-Aids – clean the wound and surrounding
area with soap and water before applying the
band-aid. 2. Ace wraps – it is essential that you learn
how to properly wrap an ankle, hand, arm etc. The bandage should be
wrapped lightly around the area to keep down the swelling until medical
care is sought. 3. Ice Bags - either store bought or ice in
zip lock bags works just as well, apply to the swollen area for 20
minutes at a time for 72 hours; 20 minutes on and 20 minutes off. Do
not use heat. 4. Contact lists - include all the doctors
your child has visited in the last year. Also list how to contact both
parents or a guardian with work/cell numbers. I would also include the
number of your insurance company. It is important to keep this list
updated at all times. 5. Allergy list - of all your family members.
It is easy to get very stressed out when you are dealing with an
injured child. This is the time that most family members forget about
the simple things… including allergies, it is important to know if your
mother or your brother or your cousin is allergic to latex, for
example. There is a slight possibility that a young family member might
also suffer from these allergies and they just haven't discovered that
yet. 6. Crutches - Hold on to old crutches or a
cane if you already have them. You never know when you might need a
pair just for a few days to take the weight off while recuperating.
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