Most sports provide a way for us to keep active, stay in shape and strengthen our muscles and cardiovascular system. While sports can be fun for people of all ages, it’s important to always remember sports safety. 

Here are a few simple tips to remember when participating in sports.

• Bike safety. Test-ride the bike on your street before traveling farther away from home. Be sure there is enough air in the tires and the brakes are in working order. All family members should always wear a helmet. For children in many states, wearing a helmut is required by law.
  
  teach children not to ride through puddles. The puddle could be covering a hole in the road that could cause an accident, or the water could cause the bike tires to hydroplane and be more difficult to control.
  
• Water safety. If children do not know how to swim, they should always wear a flotation device when in or around water. Even if they know how to swim, children of all ages should be supervised. Accidents can happen in the blink of an eye, such as a slip and fall or bumping the head against the side of the pool. Home pools should have fences or gates around them to prevent children from wandering near the water when no one’s looking. In addition, splash-sensor alarms are available that can alert homeowners when there is activity in the pool.  
  
• Organized sports and karate. To prevent injuries while participating in sports activities, begin with warm-up exercises to stretch the muscles. Next, be sure to wear appropriate protective gear. It is important to know the rules of the sport being played and to always be aware of your surroundings. For example, someone could be running toward you, but if their back is turned or if their eyes are focused elsewhere, they may not see you. Be sure to drink plenty of fluids (water and sports drinks) during practice and games. Hydration before and after sports activity is vital to restore fluids lost through sweat.

All sports can cause injuries. Following the above tips can reduce the risk of injury so you can continue to enjoy your favorite sports. Should an injury occur, seek medical attention. If you are advised to rest the injury, do so. Further damage may be caused when people attempt to continue to participate in a sport after they are injured.