SolveYourProblem Article
Series: Extreme Sports
I Love The Adrenaline Rush Of Extreme Sports
Extreme
Sports Safety - Your First Priority
Extreme sports have gained huge mainstream
popularity over the last few years. No longer reserved for
the fringe of the sporting world, participants, as well as
the audience, have zeroed in on the heightened speeds, more
daring heights, and greater risks for bodily harm that are
in store for anyone exercising these sports. Unlike the firmly
established sports, such as soccer or baseball, the rules and
goals of these activities are fluid and change whenever there
are new breakthroughs in the manufacturing or design of the
sporting equipment. The goals are usually adjusted
to push the sport and its participants to greater risks that
are just
within the very edge of the safety zone. It is not surprising
that so many young people enthusiastically embrace these kinds
of activities much to the chagrin of their parents. Accidents
very often lead to debilitating risks of limbs, and at times
may even result in death.
Would you believe that some
extreme sports have been around for decades? Mountain biking, skateboarding, mountain climbing
and even surfing all fall under the umbrella of extreme sports.
Yet while these tried and true sports have long since entered
the mainstream, for many younger sporting participants they
are only a stepping stone to more daring and more dangerous
exploits. For these folks bungee jumping, elevator surfing,
and whitewater kayaking are the new adrenaline chasers.
As with any sport, safety
precautions must be taken to ensure
that a participant will remain as healthy and unharmed as possible.
While many a skateboarder will gladly purchase the latest and
greatest skateboard, it is quite apparent that he or she is
not in such a rush to also purchase the latest and greatest
safety equipment. This error in judgment has caused many injuries,
some of them even fatal. Since skateboarding has become an
accepted activity for children, it is the parents’ responsibility
to ensure that adequate safety precautions are taken. Here
are some tips to remain safe in any extreme sport:
Learn
from the experts. No matter what sport you or your child
will wish to participate in, be sure to take to a seasoned
veteran of the sport. He or she will be able to alert you to
pitfalls, point out necessary gear, explain the advantages
of some brands of gear over others, and also help you to pick
out a good starter kit.
Remember
that you are mortal. While it is tempting to immediately
jump off the highest cliff just like the pros, remember that
it took them a while to work their way up to this cliff. Start
small and work your way up to bigger, faster, more dangerous
stunts. Beginning skiers usually start on the bunny slope and
work their way up to the black diamond run. The same is true
for any sport; yet extreme sports aficionados sometimes forget
this tried and true rule in their enthusiasm to get started.
You
get what you pay for. Safety gear is not where you want
to pinch pennies. As a matter of fact, it should take up the
lion’s share of your sports budget. While there may be flimsy
imitations of safety gloves and goggles on the market, the
odds are that they will wear through quickly and leave your
skin exposed to harm. The same is true for second hand gear
that may be available for sale through the newspaper or at
flea markets. While you may be able to find some great bargains,
be cautious that you do not buy someone else’s ineffectual
discards.
Listen
to your doctor. If you do get inured, be sure to seek
immediate medical attention and explain in detail what you
were doing when you got hurt. Your physician will be able to
give you some tips on how to avoid getting hurt again. Similarly,
if she or he warns you against participating in certain activities
in the future, you will be wise to listen. After all, what
good is it to hold the record for most daring BASE jump in
your club for two weeks, if you will have a stiff leg for a
lifetime?
As you can see, extreme sports also mean the risk for extreme
harm. Yet with a little bit of preparation and know-how, many
injuries can be avoided. # # # # #
by SolveYourProblem.com
: 2008
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