Baseball Bliss and Safety First: A Winning Combination for Kids! is all about helping to minimize injuries while still loving the game of baseball. The goal is to help other parents learn from our experience when our eleven-year-old was hit in the face by a ball while batting. At that time, he was all about baseball! He was on every team he could get on, and he had a dream for the big league.
It was a sunny day, and everyone was having a blast. But then something went wrong. A baseball smacked right into my son’s eye! We didn’t waste a second. We rushed him straight to the emergency room, where doctors ran lots of tests. Thankfully, they found that no bones were broken. But here’s the scary part—his eye was severely damaged! The doctor at the emergency room said something that I’ll never forget: “You were lucky; baseball can kill”. I was upset with that doctor because I felt like he was blaming us for letting our son play.
Beyond the Bleachers: Our Journey with a Baseball Eye Injury and the Vital Lessons We Learned from a Specialist
We saw a specialist later that week, who told us some tough news! He said that the back part of my son’s eye called the retina, was kind of squished. This meant that he couldn’t see things right in front of him anymore.
For five long days, my son had to lie on a special mattress with his head higher than his heart. His pupil was wide open for many months and didn’t react to light. It was tough for him, and we were worried.
The worst part was when another eye specialist told us that our son might never play baseball again. They said his best friend might become a “seeing-eye dog” if he got hit in the other eye. That was hard to hear because baseball was his passion.
Injury’s Long Shadow: 30 Years After the Baseball Accident
It’s been 30 years since that scary day, and we’ve learned to adjust. My son’s eye is better now, but he still has some trouble with his vision. We’re grateful he can see and enjoy life, even if baseball has become just a memory. And yes, he did continue to play baseball, but with the appropriate equipment to keep his face as safe as possible.
Tips for Safety During Batting:
My son had a helmet that had a flap to cover only the part of the face that was in the direct line of the baseball path from the pitcher. The ball hit the bat in such a way that it was able to hit the unprotected side of the face. Here are a few suggestions on what to look for in a helmet. It is important to discuss with the coach and comply with the league regarding equipment.
- Full-Face Protection: Look for helmets that provide full-face protection, including a strong and durable face guard that covers the entire face area, including the eyes, nose, and mouth. It needs to be made of high-quality materials that can withstand impacts.
- Safety Standards: Make sure the helmet complies with the safety standards set by organizations.
- Adjustability and Fit: Choose a helmet that is adjustable and provides a snug and comfortable fit. It’s important that the helmet doesn’t move around and stays securely in place to maximize protection.
- Ventilation: Look for helmets that offer adequate ventilation to prevent overheating during play. If your child is uncomfortable, there is a chance that they might go with a different helmet that may not protect them as well.
- Durability: Helmets get a lot of beatings, getting thrown, hit, etc. Make sure that they are made from durable materials that can hold up against the wear and tear of regular use.
- Brand Reputation: Consider choosing helmets from reputable sports equipment brands known for producing high-quality protective gear.
- Proper Use and Care: Regardless of the helmet you choose, you need to teach your child how to properly wear and care for their helmets.
Preventing Eye Injuries in Children Playing Baseball
Besides wearing a proper helmet, here are a few other suggestions that might help your child be safe during baseball and reduce the risk of eye injuries
- Use Protective Gear:
- Check with the coaches to make sure that the helmet fits properly and has a faceguard or cage. Do they meet the safety standards?
- Eye Protection:
- Think about additional eye protection, like sports goggles or glasses with shatterproof lenses. These can help prevent injuries from fly balls or collisions with other players. They will be more willing to wear them if they are comfortable and can easily see through them. Learn more here.
- Educate on Proper Technique:
- Teach them how to catch a ball with their glove and keep their eyes on the ball at all times.
- Age-Appropriate Leagues:
- Make sure that your child is in the age-appropriate baseball leagues
- Teach them to call out “I got it” or “Ball” to avoid collisions when attempting to catch a ball
- Safety First: Make sure your child and their friends always think about safety first. Teach them to shout “I got it” or “Ball” when they’re trying to catch a ball to avoid crashing into each other.
- Emergency Plan:
- Have a plan if there is an emergency, for any type of injury, not just getting hit in the eye.
- Set a Good Example:
- Lead by example during your own sports
Types of Eye Protection:
A faceguard or visor is something you can attach to your helmet. Look for those that meet safety standards, can easily see through them, are made of durable materials, attach securely, and can be adjusted to fit properly. Here is a site that may interest you if you want to learn more about the standards of a faceguard or visor. My son had a helmet on with a jaw protection component, but, for him, it did not protect him fully. Here is one that you may want to check out.
Sports eye guards (goggles or spectacles): These offer reduced protection from a helmet-mounted faceguard or visor but are better than a naked eye exposed to a ball impact, which can result in eye or vision loss. Always prioritize safety and ensure that any equipment you purchase for kids meets the recommended standards for their age and level of play.
Baseball Bliss and Safety First: A Winning Combination for Kids hopefully will minimize potential injuries during a fun and exciting time for our children. Playing baseball is great fun, and we all love watching our kids enjoy it. Safety is important, though, to make sure they have a good time without any accidents. Baseball is a big part of our country, and we want our kids to keep playing it safely. If I could help another child avoid or at the very least, minimize potential injuries during this wonderful time in their lives, I am hoping to do that with our experience. Now let’s go out and PLAY BALL!
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