Last summer, Michelle Pack was
just doing what parents do in every
playground across the country—
helping her daughter on the slide. At
14 months, Annetta was too young
to go alone, so Michelle went down
the slide with her daughter nestled
between her legs.
That evening Annetta, who had
been walking since she was
10 months old, would not
put weight on her leg. By the
next morning she wouldn’t
stand in her crib, so Michelle
took her to the Orthopaedic
and Sports Medicine Center.
Orthopedic surgeon
Edward Holt, MD,
confirmed that Annetta had
broken her leg while sliding
with her mother. “I see about
seven or eight of this type
of fracture every year,” says
Dr. Holt.
It happens when the
grippy sole of a toddler’s shoe prevents his
or her foot from sliding forward. The shoe
sticks, but the weight and momentum of
the parent twists and breaks
the child’s leg. Often, the
parent doesn’t even realize
it’s happened, as was the case
with Michelle and Annetta.
“It’s not something that
needs surgery,” says Dr. Holt.
“Usually they just need
a cast, but the parent is
devastated that he or she
broke the child’s leg.”
Spreading the word
Like most parents, Michelle
says she had never heard
about the risks of sliding
with a toddler. Dr. Holt
says it isn’t being publicized
in the medical community
either. So, about four years
ago, he began to campaign
for public awareness on
sliding board safety. The
word has been spreading
steadily since he received
attention in
The New York Times
and in
local news outlets.
Last fall, in a partnership with
Signing Up for
Playground
SAFETY
Video
Blog
More Success Stories
More pediatric patient
stories.
Read posts and
watch videos about our
youngest patients. Visit our
Living Healthier Together
blog at
askAAMC.org/Living
.
Signs are posted
at playgrounds
throughout the area.
Anne Arundel County Department of
Recreation and Parks, AAMC posted signs
to educate parents and care providers of
the risks of sliding with a toddler. The
signs are posted at every Anne Arundel
County playground.
“My recommendation for parents who
want their 2-year-olds to go on the slide is
to let them go by themselves,” says Dr. Holt.
“Or, if they feel compelled to slide with the
child, take the rubber-soled tennis shoes
off first.”
To learn more about sliding board
safety, watch a video featuring
Dr. Holt at
askAAMC.org/Living
.
Edward
Holt, MD
askAAMC.org «
11
Primetime and
Online
Your daily dose from AAMC @
askAAMC.org/Living
More than an owie? OrthoTODAY treats non-life-threatening, serious orthopedic injury. Call
410-280-4707
for a same-day appointment.
Avoid
Slide
Injuries
Remove
rubber-soled
shoes.
Leteachchild
slidealone.
If together,
don’t letchild’s
feet touchslide.
AACounty.org/recparks
