The number of emergency department visits for sports- and recreation-related injuries remained stable, but high, between the years 2010 and 2012, but in 2014 the number of ED visits exceeded the target value. The gender- and age-specific rates in Connecticut were highest for males and for persons 10 to 19 years of age. Most sports injuries are musculoskeletal, but they also can affect the brain and spinal cord; they can lead to poor mental functioning, missed school, and missed work. The Healthy Connecticut 2020 objective is to reduce sports- and recreation-related injuries by 10%.

Data updated as of 6/24/2016.

Potential Partners
Connecticut Department of Public Health; Connecticut Department of Children and Families; State Department of
Education; Connecticut Department of Developmental Disabilities; Office of the Child Advocate; Commission on
Children, health care providers including emergency medical services, hospitals, nurses, emergency physicians,
pediatricians, and rehabilitation facilities; media; local public health agencies; schools; coaches and athletic
associations; community service providers for families and youth; schools of public health, allied health, and
medicine; and others.

CDC's free online courses for health professionals and school coaches, parents, and athletes on preventing, recognizing, and responding to a concussion http://www.cdc.gov/concussion/

Potential Strategies

Advocate for the mandatory use of helmets by bicyclists.

Train athletes on the importance of and methods of warming up, stretching, increasing flexibility, taping, using joint braces, eccentric muscle strengthening, etc. to prevent specific injuries.

Promote use of the CDC's free online courses for health professionals and school coaches, parents, and athletes on preventing, recognizing, and responding to a concussion http://www.cdc.gov/concussion/

Partner with coaches, educators, athletic and recreational groups to promote use of appropriate protective clothing and equipment for sports and recreational activities.

Form partnerships among State agencies and schools to incorporate sports injury prevention into health education programs.

Identify and implement evidence-based team sports prevention programs, such as the Santa Monica PEP Program (Prevent Injury and Enhance Performance Program).