[Health Tip] Enjoyable 'Gajeong-ui Dal' Holidays... Beware of Outdoor Injury

May is called the "Month of Family" because it includes many days to spend with family, such as Children's Day and Parents' Day. Starting today, the holidays begin, and outings to enjoy various festivals and concerts are expected to increase. However, at such outdoor events, children can easily suffer safety accidents if attention is diverted even for a moment, and adults can also sustain unexpected injuries, so caution is necessary.

[Photo by Himchan Hospital]

According to the Korea Disease Control and Prevention Agency on the 4th, the "2018?2022 Emergency Room Injury Patient In-depth Survey" showed that the monthly proportion of injury patients aged 4 to 13 was highest in May (10.6%) and June (10.7%). Dr. Wang Bae-tae, head of the Pediatrics and Adolescents Department at Incheon Himchan General Hospital, said, "Hospital visits due to children's injuries commonly involve fractures or sprains. In cases of fractures, long-term observation is very important to ensure that the growth plates are not damaged." He added, "Especially for infants and toddlers who have limited verbal skills, expressing pain is difficult, so parents need to pay close attention after an injury."

The most common safety accidents among children are slips or falls. According to the Korea Consumer Agency's analysis of children's safety accident trends, among the total 21,642 children's safety accidents in 2022, slips or falls accounted for 30%, the highest proportion. Lacerations and abrasions usually improve with simple treatment, but fractures are problematic. Unlike adults, children's and adolescents' bones consist largely of cartilage. Due to greater elasticity against external impact, even if a complete fracture does not occur, bending or incomplete fractures can happen. In such cases, growth disorders or deformities may occur due to halted or twisted bone growth, so prompt hospital visits and treatment are necessary when fractures occur. To prevent injuries from slipping or collisions, protective gear should be worn when riding bicycles or kickboards, and users should be well acquainted with their proper use. Slipper-type footwear tends to slip easily on the ground, and feet often slide inside slippers causing loss of balance, so it is better to wear sneakers during outdoor activities.

Accidents from falling while playing on slides or aerial playground equipment also require caution. Falls account for 24% of all children's accidents, ranking second among accident types. Falling from a height can cause damage to muscles, bones, ligaments, and if the head hits the ground, a concussion may occur. Children’s bones are weaker than adults', and their neck and shoulder muscles are relatively less developed, reducing their ability to absorb impacts to the head. If a child loses consciousness, vomits, appears pale, or bleeds from the ears or nose after a fall, a concussion should be suspected, and immediate emergency room care is necessary.

One of the family events frequently held in May is sports day at daycare centers, kindergartens, or schools. Injuries often occur when parents exert themselves fully to avoid disappointing their children. Participating in events like running or tug-of-war, which put strain on the lower body, without proper warm-up can lead to joint injuries such as knee cartilage damage or ankle sprains. Knee cartilage does not heal or regenerate once damaged, so caution is needed. However, since cartilage lacks blood vessels, pain is often not felt even when it is torn or worn, and many cases progress significantly without the person realizing it, which can later contribute to degenerative arthritis, so care is essential. Ankle sprains are common joint injuries caused by trauma, with lateral ligament damage being the most frequent, resulting in swelling and bruising on the outer upper part of the ankle.

Dr. Shin Dong-hyeop, head of Orthopedics at Gangbuk Himchan Hospital, said, “To prevent injuries, it is important to combine sufficient stretching and rest before and after activities to relieve muscle and joint fatigue.” He added, “If someone has a low level of regular exercise but engages in vigorous activity for their age, they may panic when acute pain occurs due to overexertion, so it is best to enjoy exercise or activities at an appropriate level.”