August 4, 2008, 12:01 am (ET)

Every year there is a seasonal increase in the number of diving-related injuries to children. A new study in the August issue of Pediatrics, “Diving-Related Injuries in Children < 20 Years Old Treated in Emergency Departments in the United States:  1990-2006,” examined the types of injuries, how they occurred and what can be done to prevent them. Each year more than 6,500 diving-related injuries are reported. Boys and girls 10 to 14 years are the most frequent victims. Injuries to the head, neck, and face were the most common. The most frequent diagnoses were cuts and bruises. The most common cause of injury is collision with a diving board or platform. The authors assert that prevention efforts to reduce injury should include:  education to prevent young divers from jumping or diving into the shallow end of the pool, supervision by lifeguards, and visible depth indicators around the pool. They also suggest that due to the high number of cases involving diving board interference, the improvement of diving board safety could be beneficial

For more information on swimming and diving safety, see the AAP’s Parenting Q & A on water safety. http://www.aap.org/publiced/BR_WaterSafety.htm

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The American Academy of Pediatrics is an organization of 60,000 primary care pediatricians, pediatric medical subspecialists and pediatric surgical specialists dedicated to the health, safety and well being of infants, children, adolescents and young adults.