What summer activities put children at risk for spinal injury?

A Q and A on summer injury prevention with Peter Cripton, principal investigator of ICORD.

Peter Cripton is Principal Investigator of ICORD, a global leader in health research focused on spinal cord injury. Cripton is also associate professor in the Department of Mechanical Engineering.Peter Cripton is Principal Investigator of ICORD, a global leader in health research focused on spinal cord injury. Cripton is also associate professor in the Department of Mechanical Engineering.

As summer approaches, what activities put children and adults at most risk for spinal cord injuries?

Any activity that involves going head first with speed. People can break their neck diving into water that’s too shallow. It’s a good idea to take a feet-first jump to see how deep the water is or if there’s any debris like a log under the water.

Riding a mountain bike outside of your limits can also be dangerous. It’s very easy to hit something and then go over your handlebars, and suffer an injury. Have fun, but ride within your limits, make sure your helmet fits and the strap keeps it in place.

What types of prevention can people take on road trips?

People often take long-distance driving trips in the summer, and passengers need to take precautions in case they fall asleep. It’s important not to recline your seat very far when sleeping. If there is an accident, the passenger could slide under the seatbelt and receive injuries to internal organs. In the back seat, using the shoulder belt as a pillow can also result in severe spine injuries in case of an accident.