Baseball Safety for Children

More than 40 million Americans participate in softball and baseball each year, many of them children. Unfortunately, almost 500,000 players of all ages are injured seriously enough each year to seek medical attention. The most common types of baseball and softball injuries are related to being hit by the ball, sliding into bases, over-exertion, colliding with another player, and finger injuries that occur when attempting to catch the ball. The February 5, 2003, issue of JAMA includes an article about preventing baseball injuries among children by using faceguards and modified baseballs.