Football season is in full swing; how to prevent injuries

St. Petersburg, Florida - Football is a contact sport we all love to watch - the pros beating each other up on the field.

But, it can be a different story when it's our kids on the field. Football is a collision sport with risks. In fact, 16,900 kids ages 14 and under suffered head injuries due to football in 2008.

According to the American Association of Neurological Surgeons (AANS), football contributed to the second highest number of sports-related head injuries in 2008.

But Dr. Patrick Mularoni, pediatric emergency physician at All Children's Hospital, says serious injuries can be prevented. He says, "Kids need to keep their heads up, watch how they collide with other players, and this can help them avoid head and neck injuries."

Dr. Mularoni also says proper equipment will help. "We need to make sure, as parents, the equipment fits correctly. Helmets and chin straps [should be] tightly secure during a tackle."

He says the biggest mistake kids make is watching the pros and they feel a big collision is more important than following the guidelines of tackling.

Here are a list of other prevention tips from the AANS:

-All players should receive pre-season physicals

-Football players should receive adequate preconditioning and strengthening of the head and neck muscles. Lifting weights and building strength will help

-Rules prohibiting spearing should be enforced in practices and games.

-Ball carriers should be taught to not lower their heads when making contact with the tackler to avoid helmet to helmet collisions.