If you want to stay fit and active, there’s not much better than sport, and with so many different sports to choose from, there’s sure to be something you enjoy – it’s well worth trying a few different activities to see what appeals to you most.

However, it’s also worth being aware that when you play sports, you can get hurt, and as much as you and everyone else around you will try their hardest to not cause any injuries, there is still a chance that something could happen. That shouldn’t put you off playing sports altogether, but it might help you put some plans in place just in case you get injured. With that in mind, read on to find out what you can do.

Don’t Panic

It’s easier said than done in most situations, especially if the injury is particularly painful or bad, but the best thing you can do is not to panic. The more you panic, the worse the situation will feel, and you won’t be able to truly gauge the injury or what it means because your mind will be racing, and you’ll be trying to keep up.

If you feel pain or you know you’ve been hurt, stop what you’re doing and try to focus on where it hurts and work out what happened. You’ll need to have an idea of what’s wrong, and you’ll need to stop moving altogether as well to help you and to prevent things from getting worse. Once you know what the injury is, you’ll be able to work out what to do next.

Get Help

No matter what’s happened, getting help should be the next step. In a serious accident with a very bad injury, such as a broken bone or lots of bleeding, you might need to call an ambulance, and for a more minor issue, you’ll need to get help moving away from the sporting area at the very least – and you’ll probably need a first aid kit to help you patch yourself up. In either case, don’t try to do anything by yourself unless you have no choice, as you might be hurt worse than you realize.

Don’t forget you can also get help after you’re at home and you’re recovering from what happened. You can always see a doctor or head to the hospital if you think things are worse than you thought, and you might also want to get help from a personal injury lawyer if there is a claim to be made.

Rest

The crucial thing to do after an injury playing sports is to get plenty of rest and not to try to get back into the game too soon. That might mean just a few minutes, or it could be that you need weeks to recover. It’s all going to depend on the extent of your injury and, if you need to see a doctor, what their advice is.

Whatever the case, even if you don’t like what you’re told, you must follow your doctor’s advice to the letter. If you do that, you’re much more likely to recover quickly and fully and reduce the risk of getting hurt again by going back to playing sports far too soon.