Children's Medical Center supports North Texas families and coaches through injury prevention workshops and a comprehensive online health library.

Through the hospital's Speakers Bureau, orthopedic surgeons and emergency medicine specialists make presentations to coaches, parents and student-athletes that focus on injury prevention, the evaluation of sports-related injuries and other health topics. Since 2003, nearly 45,000 coaches have attended workshops hosted by specialists on the Children's medical staff. Topics range from evaluating muscle sprains and strains to preventing dehydration and handling an athlete who becomes unconscious.

The Children's Web site provides detailed information and easy-to-understand medical illustrations for more than 25 sports injury prevention and first aid topics, including:

• Normal resting heart and breathing rates
• First aid for spine injuries
• Serious internal injuries
• Bleeding injuries
• Tooth loss
• Eye laceration
• Moving an injured athlete

A convenient reference chart, available on the "Preventing Sports Injury" page, provides handy guidelines for assessing the symptoms and severity of musculoskeletal injuries and evaluating the need for treatment. Parents and coaches can print the chart from the Web site and attach it to clipboards or place in sports-equipment bags.