ANN ARBOR, Mich.-University of Michigan experts are teaming up with Safe Kids Huron Valley to help parents and coaches learn about - and how to prevent - youth sports injuries. As part of Safe Kids USA's new Safe Sports initiative, experts will teach two free seminars Tuesday, April 27, from noon - 1 p.m. and from 6 - 7 p.m. at the U-M Cardiovascular Center in the Danto Auditorium (Room 2314).

More than 30 million children participate in sports each year in the United States. Of those, approximately 3.5 million children under age 14 are treated for sports-related injuries in hospitals, doctors' offices, clinics, ambulatory surgery centers and hospital emergency rooms.

Children, ages 5 to 14, account for nearly 40 percent of all sports-related injuries treated in hospital emergency departments. Safe Kids Huron Valley and the University of Michigan want to reach out to coaches and parents through these seminars and equip them with critical information and resources to protect young children and lessen the risk for injuries on the playing field.

Topics covered in each seminar:

• Avoiding heat stroke, with Victor L. Katch, Ed.D., M.S., professor of movement science in the U-M Division of Kinesiology and associate professor of pediatric cardiology.
• Concussion, with Jeffrey S. Kutcher, M.D., director of Michigan NeuroSport and assistant professor of neurology in the U-M Department of Neurology.
• Preventing tendonitis, with James K. Richardson, M.D., associate professor of physical medicine and rehabilitation in the U-M Department of Physical Medicine & Rehabilitation.
• ACL Injuries, with Edward M. Wojtys, M.D., chief of the U-M Sports Medicine Service, director the MedSport Sports medicine program, associate director of the U-M Bone & Joint Injury prevention & Rehabilitation Center and professor of orthopaedic surgery in the U-M Department of Orthopaedic Surgery.

Seating is available on a first-come, first-served basis. Parking is free after 5 p.m.

THE NOON - 1 P.M. SESSION WILL BE WEB CAST LIVE. VISIT WWW.BJIPRC.UMICH.EDU FOR DETAILS.

Safe Kids Huron Valley partnering with the University of Michigan was selected as one of 20 coalitions across the country to receive funding for the Safe Sports clinics from Safe Kids USA, supported by founding sponsor Johnson & Johnson. This new initiative focuses on four components critical to keeping young athletes healthy and injury-free: preventing acute and overuse injuries, proper hydration before, during and after play, annual pre-season medical screenings for each athlete and finally, concussion awareness, prevention and screening methods.