Winter Sports Bring Their Own Kind of Bumps and Bruises
Winter in North Idaho is a gift for active kids. Skiing and snowboarding, sledding, skating, and indoor sports like basketball and wrestling keep children moving through the colder months. With that activity comes the occasional fall, twisted ankle, or sore wrist.
Most minor injuries heal well with rest and home care. Some need a closer look. Knowing the difference, and knowing where to go, can save your family time and worry. Family Health Center in Sandpoint provides pediatric and adolescent care, including care for sports injuries, and can often handle splinting and casting right in the office.
Common Winter Injuries in Kids
Children’s bones and joints are still growing, which affects how they get hurt and how they heal. Common winter injuries include wrist injuries from falling on an outstretched hand, knee and ankle sprains, bruises, and cuts. Head bumps are also a concern on the slopes, on sledding hills, and in contact sports.
Growing kids can also develop overuse pain when they play hard in one sport without enough rest. Pain that keeps coming back in the same spot is worth mentioning to your child’s provider.
When to Call Your Family Doctor
An injury does not need to be dramatic to deserve a visit. It is reasonable to schedule an appointment if you notice any of the following:
- Swelling or bruising that does not start to improve after a day or two
- Pain that keeps your child from putting weight on a leg or using an arm normally
- A joint that feels unstable, locks, or gives way
- A cut that is deep, gaping, or will not stop bleeding with steady pressure
- A bump to the head followed by headache, dizziness, confusion, or unusual tiredness
- Pain that returns every time your child goes back to the activity
Family Health Center offers same-day appointments for injuries that happened today or yesterday. That makes it a good first call for many fresh sprains, minor fractures, and cuts that may need stitches. Older injuries from weeks ago are usually better handled with a regular appointment.
When to Go Straight to Emergency Care
Some injuries should not wait for a clinic visit. Call 9-1-1 or go to the emergency room if your child loses consciousness, has a seizure, has trouble breathing, has a bone visibly out of place or poking through the skin, or cannot be woken normally after a head injury. When in doubt, it is always better to be safe.
For questions after hours, the clinic’s providers are available around the clock through the on-call line. The answering service will collect basic information and page the on-call provider, who can help you decide what to do next.
Simple Ways to Prevent Winter Injuries
Not every injury can be avoided, but a few habits lower the odds. Make sure helmets fit well and are worn every time on the slopes and sledding hills. Check that boots and bindings are adjusted for your child’s current size, since kids outgrow gear quickly. Encourage a short warm-up before practice or the first run of the day.
Rest matters too. Tired kids are more likely to fall. Plan breaks, bring snacks and water, and call it a day when your child starts getting sloppy. If your child is starting a winter team sport, a camp or sports physical is also a good time to talk through any past injuries.
Families throughout North Idaho deserve care that keeps kids active and healthy all winter long. If your child is hurt or you have questions about a sports injury, contact Family Health Center Sandpoint to schedule a visit.
