Adolescent Injuries & Wellness
Mary Washington Healthcare: Community Partners in Injury Prevention & Wellness
This page contains information about injuries and wellness pertinent to
adolescents. If you are a parent of teenagers, knowing how to help your
child avoid injury is important. Our team at Mary Washington Healthcare
takes action to provide health and wellness education for parents and
teens, as well as proper care for injuries including sports injuries and
concussions. We invite you to learn more by contacting our dedicated staff
at any time.
Teenage Drivers & Safety
The most common cause of death for 16 to 20 year-olds in the United States
is motor vehicle crashes, according to the American Academy of Pediatrics
(AAP). Car accidents are also the top cause of injuries in adolescents.
If you are a parent of teens, understanding the risks your child faces
on the road is critical. Teenagers are at a higher risk of incurring injury
or being killed in a motor vehicle accident due to two major factors:
Driving inexperience and a higher rate of risk-taking behaviors. Teens
who drink and drive are more likely to get in an accident than adult drivers,
even if they drink less. Teen drivers are also less likely to use seatbelts,
and more likely to cause death among other drivers, passengers, and pedestrians.
You can help your teenager stay safe on the road by adhering to the guidelines
provided by AAP:
- Emphasize the importance of safe driving
- Help your teen develop skills as a driver with supervised practice
- Set a good example in your own driving
- Set up limits up on your teen’s driving, including nighttime driving
and driving with too many passengers
- Ensure that the vehicle is safe, in good working order, and is properly
maintained
- Introduce penalties for irresponsible driving
- If possible, join community advocacy efforts, including alcohol-free events
- Take action to support appropriate legislation
Sports Injuries & Student Athletes
Many teenagers participate in sports and athletic events. Sports can be
a great way to learn teamwork, integrity, perseverance, worth ethic, and
more, while also teaching valuable lessons about healthy lifestyle choices.
Unfortunately, sports injuries can and do occur. At the Human Motion Institute,
we strive to ensure that our patients who are athletes have access to
high quality care—whether they are professional athletes, student
athletes, or recreational athletes. We offer programs that benefit our
athletic community as well as injury prevention / recognition education
initiatives for athletes, parents, and coaches in our area. Our goal is
to help members of our community take care of their bodies while maintaining
fit, active lifestyles.
Other programs feature education regarding proper:
- Strength training
- Flexibility
- Endurance
- Conditioning
- Training techniques
What Every Parent Should Know About Concussions
While often connected with contact sports such as football, it is important
to realize that concussions can happen in any sport. Concussions may be
caused by a blow to the head or whiplash. Recent media attention has done
a lot to highlight the problem of concussions in student athletes and
pro sports, and the long-term damage even so-called minor head injuries
can incur. For our part, Mary Washington Healthcare has partnered with
the University of Mary Washington to develop the first in the state return-to-play
guidelines for the collegiate athlete.
Click here to learn about the program, Eagle Care.
If you or your child experience the following symptoms of concussion, call
911 or visit the emergency room immediately:
- Behavior changes
- Headache that gets worse with time
- Double vision
- Nausea / vomiting
- Dizziness
- Excessive fatigue / sleepiness
You should NOT play through the pain or assume that everything is okay
just because you cannot see physical damage after a head injury or you
weren’t knocked unconscious. Concussions are not minor injuries:
They can cause long-term disability, and a second concussion can result
in permanent brain damage. Seek medical attention immediately if you or
your child suffered a head injury and show signs of a concussion. If you
are unsure of your signs and symptoms or if you have questions regarding
concussions, call our HealthLink Nurse Line at (540) 741-1000, 6:00 a.m.,
to midnight, seven days a week.
Consult the following links for more information about concussions: