RedCrossPhillyBlog

Category: Preparedness

  • Fire Prevention Week: Smoke Alarms Save Lives

    By Teliyah Davis

    Every year, Fire Prevention Week serves as a crucial reminder of the importance of fire safety and prevention. One of the most significant advancements in fire safety has been the widespread use of smoke alarms, which have undoubtedly saved countless lives. This year, let’s dive into the essential role smoke alarms play in fire prevention, explore best practices for their placement, and highlight the valuable partnership between the American Red Cross and the community through its Home Fire Campaign.

    Red Cross graphic: Working smoke alarms save lives and cut the risk of death in a fire by half.

    The Lifesaving Power of Smoke Alarms

    Smoke alarms are a simple yet effective tool in the fight against fires. These small devices are designed to detect smoke and emit a loud, piercing alarm when smoke is present. This early warning is crucial, as it provides occupants with the precious seconds needed to evacuate safely.

    The statistics speak for themselves. According to the National Fire Protection Association (NFPA), three out of five home fire deaths occur in homes without working smoke alarms. In contrast, homes with properly functioning smoke alarms reduce the risk of death in a fire by half. This makes smoke alarms an absolute must-have in every home.

    Placement Best Practices

    While having smoke alarms is essential, their placement within your home is equally crucial. Here are some best practices to ensure the most effective use of smoke alarms:

    1. Install alarms in every bedroom and outside each sleeping area. This ensures that you will be alerted immediately if a fire starts while you and your family are asleep.
    2. Place alarms on every level of your home. Fires can start anywhere, so having alarms on each floor provides comprehensive coverage.
    3. Interconnect your alarms. If one alarm goes off, all interconnected alarms in the house will sound, increasing the chances of early detection.
    4. Test alarms regularly. Test your smoke alarms monthly to ensure they are functioning correctly, and replace the batteries at least once a year.
    5. Replace alarms as needed. Smoke alarms have a limited lifespan, typically around 10 years. Make sure to replace them when they reach this age.

    The Red Cross Home Fire Campaign

    The American Red Cross understands the vital role that smoke alarms play in home safety. That’s why we have initiated the Home Fire Campaign, a nationwide effort aimed at reducing the number of fire-related deaths and injuries. This campaign involves installing free smoke alarms in high-risk communities, educating families about fire safety, and creating escape plans.

    Through partnerships with local fire departments and volunteers, the Red Cross has been able to make a significant impact. Thousands of homes have been made safer thanks to this program.

    During Fire Prevention Week and throughout the year, take the time to ensure your home is equipped with working smoke alarms and follow the placement best practices. If you or someone you know is in need of smoke alarms, consider reaching out to the Red Cross or your local fire department for assistance.

    Remember, smoke alarms save lives, and by taking these simple steps, you can protect your loved ones and contribute to a safer community. Fire Prevention Week serves as a powerful reminder that fire safety is everyone’s responsibility, and it starts with a small but lifesaving device—the smoke alarm.

  • Fire Prevention Week: Cooking Safety Starts with You

    By Nancy Degnan

    Cooking together with your family and friends is an opportunity to create happy memories. An active kitchen can be a busy place and it is important to be mindful of this to keep yourself, family, and friends safe. With the oven and stove on, you may be tempted, for the sake of time, to turn away to use another appliance or tend to a child’s need.

    Red Cross graphic: Nearly 70% of us have left the kitchen while cooking.

    The Red Cross and the National Fire Protection Association (NFPA) recommend that as part of your meal preparation — include a moment for fire safety awareness — to ensure your family meals and celebrations are always cherished occasions.

    Home fires are more likely to start in the kitchen than any other room, so remember “cooking safety starts with you.” The Red Cross in partnership with the NFPA offer some fire safety tips and ideas:

    • Never leave cooking food unattended.
    • Stay in the kitchen when you are frying, grilling, or broiling food. If you must leave the kitchen for even a short period of time, turn off the stove.
    • If you are simmering, baking, boiling, or roasting food, check it regularly, remain in the home while food is cooking, and use a timer to remind yourself that the stove or oven is on.
    • Avoid wearing loose clothing or dangling sleeves while cooking.
    • Keep kids away from cooking areas by enforcing a “kid-free zone” of three feet around the stove.
    • Keep anything that can catch on fire — potholders, oven mitts, wooden utensils, paper or plastic bags, food packaging, and towels or curtains — away from your stove top and oven or any other appliance in the kitchen that generates heat.
    • Clean cooking surfaces on a regular basis to prevent grease buildup.
    • Consider purchasing a fire extinguisher to keep in your kitchen. Contact your local fire department to take training on the proper use of extinguishers.
    • Always check the kitchen before going to bed or leaving the home to make sure all stoves, ovens, and small appliances are turned off.
    • Install a smoke alarm near your kitchen, on each level of your home, near sleeping areas, and inside and outside bedrooms if you sleep with doors closed. Use the test button to check it each month. Replace all batteries at least once a year.
    Red Cross graphic: Oven Fires – Keep the door closed so the fire doesn’t spread, and call 911.

    There are many available resources to learn about fire safety. Spread the word by sharing what you learn or send this link for free safety tips.There are tips on the topics below and more: 

    • Cooking appliances
    • Microwave safety
    • Scald prevention
    • Campus safety
    • Thanksgiving
    • Shabbat Safety
    • Escape planning
    • Smoke Alarms at Home

    NFPA also offers free safety tip sheets in other languages on a variety of fire and life safety topics.

    Visit our website for more information on how to prevent cooking fires and how to make a difference in home fire safety.

  • National Preparedness Month: Ensuring the well-being of our furry companions

    By Teliyah Davis

    When it comes to emergency preparedness, ensuring the safety and well-being of every member of your family, including your beloved pets, should be a top priority. Our furry friends are part of our families, and just like any other family member, they need to be included in our plans for unexpected situations. Whether it’s a natural disaster, a sudden evacuation, or any other crisis, having a well-thought-out pet safety and preparedness plan can make all the difference.

    Red Cross graphic: Make an emergency kit for pets with things like: leashes, food, water, cat litter, medication.

    Creating a Pet Evacuation Kit

    One of the critical components of pet safety and preparedness is the creation of a pet evacuation kit. This kit should contain everything your pet might need to stay safe, comfortable, and healthy during an emergency. Here are the essential items to include:

    1. Food and Water: Pack a sufficient amount of your pet’s regular food and clean water to last for at least a week. Make sure to include non-perishable food items that have a long shelf life.
    2. Medications and Medical Records: Include any necessary medications your pet requires, along with copies of their medical records, vaccination history, and any relevant prescriptions.
    3. Identification Tags: Ensure your pet has proper identification, including an up-to-date ID tag with your contact information. Consider microchipping your pet as an added layer of identification.
    4. Comfort Items: Familiar items like toys, blankets, and bedding can provide comfort and a sense of security for your pet during stressful times.
    5. Leashes, Carriers, and Harnesses: Have sturdy leashes, carriers, or harnesses ready to transport your pet safely. These items will be crucial during evacuations.
    6. Sanitary Supplies: Pack waste bags, litter for cats, and cleaning supplies to maintain hygiene.
    7. Contact List: Have a list of emergency contacts, including your veterinarian’s information, animal shelters, and friends or family who can assist with your pet if needed.
    Red Cross graphic: Plan where you’ll go if you need to evacuate.

    Incorporating Pets into Shelter Plans

    Recognizing the importance of pets in people’s lives, the Red Cross has made significant strides in accommodating pets during emergencies. Red Cross Pet Liaisons work to incorporate pets into shelter plans, ensuring that families and their furry companions can stay together during challenging times.

    Shelters equipped to handle pets provide separate areas for animals, complete with necessary amenities. This not only ensures the physical well-being of pets but also alleviates emotional stress for both animals and their owners.

    Red Cross graphic: If it’s not safe for you to stay home during an emergency, it’s not safe for your pets either!

    Community Engagement and Awareness

    Raising awareness about pet safety in emergencies can encourage more people to take the necessary steps to prepare for their pets’ well-being. This includes assembling evacuation kits and practicing evacuation drills with pets, so everyone knows what to do when disaster strikes.

    Pets are cherished members of our families, and their safety and well-being should be a priority in any emergency preparedness plan. By creating pet evacuation kits, incorporating pets into shelter plans, and promoting community engagement, we can ensure that our furry companions are protected during times of crisis. With these measures in place, we can face the unexpected with confidence, knowing that we are well-prepared to care for all members of our family.

  • National Preparedness Month: Helping kids plan for emergencies

    By Haley Heisley

    Red Cross graphic: “Alexa, enable Pedro’s Fire Challenge.” Teach kids about fire safety with our interactive game on Amazon Alexa-enabled devices featuring Pedro the penguin.

    With September being National Preparedness Month, I wanted to put a special focus on the child and youth population for all of those parents and caregivers out there reading this!

    Preparedness Month puts emphasis on how everyone should always be prepared for a disaster or emergency situation that could happen at any time. I myself was guilty for a while of thinking, “Nothing will ever happen to me” or “Everything is fine there is nothing to prepare for.” But when extreme weather conditions and the global pandemic of COVID-19 come in and take their effect, it makes you wish you were better prepared.

    Just because children won’t be able to be the ones going out and stocking up the food pantry, buying jugs of water, and making sure the backup generator works, it doesn’t mean that they shouldn’t be involved in the preparing process.

    Listed below are some of the most important reminders of what we should be teaching our youth regarding National Preparedness Month.  

    Raise Awareness – Teach your children and public youth about potential emergencies or disasters and what it would mean for those affected by it. These aren’t always meant to be “adult conversations.” Helping the youth become more educated on these topics and how to prepare for them can decrease fear levels while raising awareness.

    Teach Emergency Plans – Children should know the emergency plans of what to do in any instance, especially in the home, at school, or any other activities/care facilities they regularly frequent. Some examples are shelter in place and fire drills. The youth should also be aware of any emergency and supply kits, where to find them, and how to use the items included in one. 

    Share Emergency Contacts – Children should have emergency contacts written down or memorized in any situation, even just out at the shopping mall in case they were to get lost, need help, or have an actual emergency situation where they need to reach hold of someone.

    Educate about 9-1-1 – Children should be taught when it is a right time or not to call 911, and what qualifies as a 911 emergency or not. 

    Encourage Feelings and Opinions – Talk to youth about how they are feeling and what emotions they have with regard to preparing for emergencies and disasters. This can seem frightening to a child, especially if they feel like they are preparing for a definite event. Remind them that it’s better to be prepared than to not be. Also remind children to ask questions if they have them because we may not be by their side to tell them what to do in an emergency situation.  

    National Preparedness Month is especially important because it serves as a reminder to the public of what to incorporate into their own lives as well as others’ lives. Learn more about youth preparedness by visiting ready.gov/kids.

  • National Preparedness Month: Tips for older adults

    By Sanaya SinhaRoy

    Ready.gov graphic: 2023 National Preparedness Month

    Every September, organizations recognize National Preparedness Month, a month where we support the efforts in taking action before, during and after an emergency. As we grow older, certain risks become more prevalent but staying prepared for any circumstances can reduce these risks. While being prepared is important for people of all ages, it is important to customize preparedness plans to address the unique needs and challenges that older adults may face.

    Securing Important Documents

    A disaster or emergency could erase vital documents or records. Encourage everyone in your community to keep multiple copies in different and secure places. With today’s technology, storing documents online can be done easily with just a click of a button. 

    Vital documents could be:

    • Personal identification card (passport, driver’s license, Medicare card
    • Personal Medication Records/Immunization Records
    • Social security card
    • Health Insurance cards
    • Financial records
    • Family Records
    • Records of passwords and PINs

    Prepare Emergency Kits

    After an emergency or disaster, people often have items necessary post-disaster, but not organized in one place. It is important to consolidate all these items into one place to avoid panic and confusion.

    Basic Supplies in the Emergency Kit could include:

    • Food that should for sustain 3 days; this should include non-perishables and a can opener for canned food
    • Battery-powered or hand crank radio & weather radio
    • Flashlight and extra batteries
    • First aid kit with the basics: bandages, thermometer, antiseptic, gloves, etc.
    • Whistle to signal for help
    • Dust mask to help filter contaminated air
    • Wrench or pliers to turn off utilities
    • Local maps
    • Pet food, extra supplies for your house pet

    For additional items, visit FEMA’s Ready Emergency Supply List

    Develop an Evacuation Plan

    Post disaster can be a chaotic and frightening time with people unsure and confused what to do. It is important to organize a plan and share it with others in the community to execute after such incidents. This plan should include a meeting place, maps of the local area, and a list of emergency contacts. This plan should be shared with everyone in the community in order to ensure the safest and most convenient way of planning. Consider inviting an emergency response expert to speak to your community about emergency preparedness topics and the best evacuation routes for your area.

    Be Prepared Financially

    Rebuilding your lives financially after a disaster or emergency can be devastating and stressful. Having quick and easy access to personal financial, insurance, medical and other records is important in order to ensure an efficient recovery. Consider saving money in an emergency savings account that can be accessed anytime. Setting a small amount of cash aside in a safe place inside your home is important because ATM’s and credit cards may not work during a disaster, at a time when you need to purchase necessary supplies like fuel and food.

    For more tips on Financial Preparedness, visit FEMA’s toolkit.

  • Red Cross Camp Save-a-Life serves 900+ Philly youth

    By Maureen Zug

    Camp Ave-a-Life counselors Sumeyya Herzi and Daijah Fleming teach youth preparedness program to youth this summer in Philadelphia. Photo by Ryan Gaul/American Red Cross

    Camp Save-a-Life — a partnership between the City of Philadelphia’s Parks and Recreation Department and the American Red Cross Southeastern Pennsylvania (SEPA) Region — is a great success story of the summer season. 

    Funded by the Pennsylvania Education Improvement Tax Credit (EITC) program, Camp Save-A-Life taught youth fire safety and preparedness programs Prepare with Pedro and The Pillowcase Project to 911 youth over a five-week period between July 10 and Aug. 11 at 25 locations across the city. It replaced the legacy program Camp Save-a-Life formerly held at the Red Cross House in West Philadelphia for the 2023 summer season.

    Reaching Out to Local Neighborhoods

    Camp counselors Sumeyya Herzi and Daijah Fleming taught the Prepare with Pedro program to 329 6- and 7-year-olds in 30-minute sessions.  The enthusiastic young campers were provided with coloring workbooks with action items for home fire safety and guided steps for having a plan to share with their parents or guardians. They also taught The Pillowcase Project to 582 highly-engaged 8- to 12-year-olds in 45-minute periods. In addition to family-focused workbooks designed to strengthen safety and preparedness lessons learned in camp, the youth were given pillowcases to color and use to store go-bag emergency items.

    By partnering with the City of Philadelphia Parks and Recreation’s program, [the Red Cross] was able to forge local neighborhood relationships with young people and build bridges to families who may need home safety and preparedness information,” said Ryan Gaul, Red Cross disaster preparedness manager. “Incidentally, the success of Camp Save-a-Life helped us meet 53% of our youth preparedness service goal for FY24.”

    The Service Delivery Team

    The Camp Save-a -Life team was spearheaded by Red Cross Regional Disaster Officer Lisa McGee and Philadelphia Parks and Recreation Program Director Joseph Brogan, along with Ryan Gaul, Red Cross regional disaster preparedness manager, Maureen Streeter, regional recovery manager, and instructors Sumeyya Herzi and Daijah Fleming. Red Cross volunteers Kathy Mullen and Charlene Scott  provided outreach support at the rec centers.

    Visit redcross.org to learn more about Red Cross youth preparedness programs.

  • Red Cross focuses on worsening extreme weather during National Preparedness Month

    By Alana Mauger

    Red Cross graphic: The climate crisis is a humanitarian crisis.

    September is Disaster Preparedness Month, and the American Red Cross is urging everyone to prepare for a national trend of worsening severe weather. In fact, as an organization, we have responded to nearly twice as many large disasters across the country as we did a decade ago.

    As rapidly intensifying, weather-related events pose serious challenges to our humanitarian work and the people we serve, the Red Cross has announced an ambitious national plan to take urgent action. With more climate-driven disasters upending lives and devastating communities, we’re racing to adapt our services and grow our disaster response capacity across the country. At the same time, we’re funding new international programs on climate response and preparedness, as well as minimizing our own environmental footprint.

    Locally in Southeastern Pennsylvania, we’re recruiting and training more Red Cross volunteers to respond both in our region and across the country. Currently, 11 of our local volunteers are deployed to assist people in Hawaii, Southern California, Washington and Florida, as well as virtually, and this summer, our volunteers have also helped people impacted by extreme weather in Guam, Texas, Vermont, Oklahoma, Mississippi and Arkansas.

    For National Preparedness Month, you can individually take three lifesaving actions — get a kit, make a plan and be informed — to help protect yourself against local emergencies.Follow safety tips now at redcross.org/prepare. We also invite you to check our Red Cross Philly Blog throughout the month for a series of volunteer-written articles about specific preparedness topics.

    Red Cross graphic — Actions we’re taking to address the climate crisis: enhancing large-scale disaster response services; strengthening local partnerships to mitigate health, hunger and housing challenges; growing our disaster teams to provide more relief; expanding our financial assistance programs.

    ADAPTING TO THE CLIMATE CRISIS

    In the first half of 2023 alone, the nation experienced an above-average 15 billion-dollar disasters. That’s all on top of extreme heat in communities across the U.S. — which have made July the country’s hottest single month on record. What’s more, the U.S. is just now entering its typical peak time for hurricanes and wildfires.

    As extreme weather disasters increase, more people need help from the Red Cross in the U.S. As such, we’re taking bold and thoughtful actions to adapt our services and grow our capacity. For example, the Red Cross is:

    • Enhancing large-scale disaster response services by bolstering the aid provided in emergency shelters and extending casework support to help people with the most recovery needs.
    • Expanding financial assistance to help more families with unmet needs and bridge the gap between immediate disaster relief and long-term recovery assistance.
    • Strengthening local partner networks in targeted areas that face a high risk of extreme weather and existing societal inequities with a focus on increased access to health and mental health services, nutritious food and safe housing for local families.
    • Growing our disaster workforce to deepen disaster readiness. This includes fortifying the critical infrastructure and technology that enables 24/7 response to disasters across the country.
    Red Cross graphic: New Tee, Sept. 1-18 – Give Blood, Give Hope.

    CLIMATE AND WEATHER IMPACT THE NATIONAL BLOOD SUPPLY

    The Red Cross has seen a significant shortfall in blood and platelet donations over the last month, making it hard to keep pace with the need for blood products. Blood and platelet donations that go uncollected due to climate-related events, such as hurricanes, wildfires and extreme heat, can put further strain on the national blood supply. As extreme weather events are worsening, the Red Cross is seeing that translate into more blood drive cancellations. In 2022, over 1,300 blood drives were canceled due to weather — about 23% higher than the average of the prior nine years.

    In thanks for helping ensure the nation’s blood supply is prepared for all emergencies, from disasters to medical emergencies, all who come to give blood, platelets or plasma Sept. 1-18 will receive a limited-edition Red Cross T-shirt, while supplies last. Those who come to give throughout September will also receive a coupon for a free haircut by email, thanks to Sport Clips Haircuts. Details are available at rcblood.org/racetogive. Donors can schedule an appointment to donate using the Red Cross Blood Donor App, by visiting RedCrossBlood.org or by calling 1-800-RED CROSS (1-800-733-2767).

  • Follow these tips for a safe Labor Day weekend

    By Zain Ahmad

    “Cook on BBQ” by Charles Rondeau, published under CC0 Public Domain.

    Labor Day weekend is around the corner. Since this is the last weekend of the summer, you may have plans for a picnic, barbecue or outdoor games. However you spend it, here are ways to stay safe during your holiday and make it memorable.

    The most overlooked, though an important habit is sun safety. Prolonged exposure of your skin to the sun can cause skin cancer. Some of the best ways to stay safe in the sun are:

    • Wear long sleeved clothing and a hat. For baseball-type hats, make sure to wear sunscreen for the back of your neck and ears.
    • While hats are a good way of sun protection, sunglasses are important too. UV rays damage your eyes with time. The best way of protecting your eyes from the sun is by wearing sunglasses that block UVA and UVB rays.
    • Sunscreen should be applied to any exposed part of the body. Any sunscreen with a SPF of 30 or higher is necessary for going outdoors to keep your skin safe. Make sure to put sunscreen around every 2 hours and get new sunscreen if the current one expires.

    An extremely popular method of celebrating Labor Day is by hosting picnics and eating outdoors. Here are a few safety tips for eating outdoors.

    The most important tip is keeping yourself well hydrated. Always prepare for an ample supply of clean drinking water. Second, when preparing and eating food, always make sure to keep cold food cold and keep hot food hot. This will ensure that the food is at the right temperature and will terminate any bacterial growth. Other important tips are:

    • Make sure to pack all cold food in a cooler, keeping the temperature under 40 degrees Fahrenheit.
    • Make sure that the types of food are separated to prevent any mix of ingredients inside the food. For example, keeping any type of meat next to vegetables will have the juice from the meat being transferred to the vegetables, and that results in cross-contamination.
    • Any fruits or vegetables should be cleaned and rinsed before being eaten.
    • Grilling also goes with outdoor picnics. Before you start grilling, you always want to make sure that marinated food stays in the refrigerator, and to not reuse marinade. 
    • Make sure that your food served is clean, and that there are no other objects that have found their way into your food.
    • When serving food, make sure that no utensils are reused as this also causes cross-contamination.
    • After grilling, take all precautions to put off the fire. This will prevent any fire mishaps.

    Staying safe in the sun, and while eating and grilling, will make your Labor Day a fun-filled holiday!

  • Heading back to school? Read these tips to stay safe!

    By Caroline Carr

    “Yellow School Busses” by Petr Kratochvil, published under CC0 Public Domain.

    Summer is winding down and we are making plans for the last party of the summer…Labor Day. What comes next? You guessed it! The kids go back to school! While we are getting the fall wardrobe together and wondering who we are going to sit with at lunch, don’t forget some of these tips for safety.

    For Students:

    • Arriving at the bus stop a little early will give you plenty of time to get there so you don’t have to take chances when crossing streets.
    • Make sure to cross where there is a crossing guard so they can help you to cross safely.
    • Never accept a ride from a stranger. Don’t even speak to them. If a stranger tries to offer you a ride or talk to you at all, be sure to report it to your parent, a teacher or the police.
    • Make sure the bus comes to a complete stop before entering or exiting. Don’t stand up on the bus while it is moving.

    For Parents:

    • Talk to your children about bus safety.
    • Make sure they know what to do if they encounter a stranger.
    • Have a plan in place in case your child misses the bus.
    • For younger children, it’s a good idea to walk with them to the bus stop and wait until they are safely on their way to school. Then meet them at the bus stop when they leave school.

    For the Community:

    Look out for pedestrians as we head back to school this fall. It’s time to slow down and make sure we watch for children walking to bus stops and going home. Even though parents and teachers tell them how to be careful on the road, kids often act in the moment and forget to look both ways or be aware of traffic. It’s up to all of us to look out for them.

    • Don’t block crosswalks when stopping at stop signs or red lights.
    • Follow school bus protocol. Yellow lights mean to slow down as the bus is going to stop soon. Flashing red lights mean the bus is loading or unloading passengers, and you must stop until the lights go out.
    • Always yield the right of way to a pedestrian. Don’t blow your horn at them if they are walking slow. Give them a wider berth when passing them on the shoulder.
    • Obey the speed limit when driving through a school zone.
    • Give yourself plenty of time to get to your destination in case there is a school zone or bus stop on your way.

    Safety is a community responsibility. All of us must make sure children are safe when going to and from school. It’s easy to get out of practice during the summer. Take the time to familiarize yourself with school zones and bus stops along your regular routes. Make time for safety!

  • Fall sports: Top tips to stay safe

    By Nathan Fligelman

    “Football Ground” by George Hoden, published under CC0 Public Domain.

    As summer nears its end, the Fall sports season is set to begin! With the practice and play of Fall sports comes a wave of thrilling fun and exciting competition. Unfortunately, injuries and ailments are also part of the game. So here’s some advice to help prevent some of the most common game day misfortunes.

    From practice to championship level competition, the first important tip is to stay hydrated. Drinking enough water is crucial for success – especially in the heat.

    It’s easy to get caught up in high stakes match-ups, but remember athletes must do their best to pace themselves and not over exert themselves.

    Stretching and jogging throughout warm up sessions is a way to help prevent issues with your muscles.

    Some might say availability is the best ability and you can’t help your team if you are out sick or injured. You don’t want to not show up because you are too tired or have pain from the wear and tear on your body that could have been avoided if you took the proper precautions.

    Athletes can develop good safety habits early on and many of those include knowing the proper technique for a sport and making sure to learn how to properly use any equipment. Equipment, like helmets or pads in football, is designed to protect you and is meant to be worn at all times while participating in the activity.

    The unfortunate truth of the sports world is that no matter how hard you work to avoid injury, you may still get hurt. Respond appropriately if you do get injured. Most importantly, if you suffer a head injury, like a suspected concussion, it is critical that you immediately discontinue your participation and seek the care and official diagnosis of a doctor. Normally, several weeks of rest are advised after a concussion, in order to ensure that the brain is fully healed before rejoining your team.

    It’s tempting to want to play through an injury, like professional athletes often do, but don’t do it. Therapy and rest may be recommended and can be critical to proper healing. For more serious injuries, like a sprain, tear or fracture, athletes may need to seek the help of a specialist like an orthopedic surgeon.

    This Fall, as you work hard and help lead your team to a championship win, make sure you also take care of yourself properly!