Massachusetts Personal Injury Library
Baseball Injuries Affect Young Players
Baseball is the national pastime, and over 4.8 million children aged 5-14 participate each year in baseball or softball. Unfortunately, 2-8% of those children are injured each year. These injuries range from catastrophic impact with a ball or bat, to injuring bones and muscles from overusing a pitching arm, according to the American Academy of Pediatricians (AAP).
Baseball related injuries
According to AAP, approximately 162,000 children are treated in emergency rooms, with most injuries occurring at age 12. Of these injuries, 26% were from fractures, and 37% were contusions and abrasions. The rest of the injuries were from strains, sprains, concussions, internal injuries, and dental injuries.
Some deaths have occurred from the ball or bat hitting the head or from blunt chest impact. Children from age 5-15 are vulnerable to blunt chest impact. Statistics kept by the US Consumer Product Safety Commission (CPSC) show an average of four deaths from baseball related injuries each year.
According to CPSC, on average 43% of these were from direct balls hitting the chest, 24% were from direct balls hitting the head, 15% were from getting hit by a bat, 10% were from direct balls hitting the neck, ears, or throats, and 8% the cause of injury was unknown.
What can parents do to protect their children?
Direct contact by the ball is the most frequent cause of death and serious injury in baseball. These are some measures to prevent Boston child injury:
- use batting helmets
- use face protectors while at base and on base
- use special equipment for the catcher (helmet, mask, chest, neck protectors)
- eliminate on-deck circles
- install protective screening around dugouts
Proper equipment that protects children:
- Using softer balls because they are less likely to cause serious head injury, recommended by the National Operating Committee on the Standards for Athletic Equipment (NOCSAE)
- Chest protectors for batters in two styles:
- small polyethylene square protecting the heart
- high density plastic and foam vest to protect ribs and heart
- batting helmets with polycarbonate face guards that protect injuries to teeth and facial bones
- polycarbonate sports goggles to protect eyes
Kiley Law Group, located in Andover and Boston in Massachusetts, takes time when speaking with you about your case and works with you on a contingent basis so there are NO FEES unless our trained Massachusetts personal injury lawyers wins your case. Call now for a FREE evaluation of your case – 1-888-208-1695.
