How to Keep Your Kids Safe From Injury … or Worse

Michael Cools, M.D., specializes in pediatric neurosurgery at Ascension Michigan , Children’s Hospital of Michigan , and the Detroit Medical Center . Here, he offers tips on preventing childhood injuries (or worse) and gives details on some of the innovations happening in his field.

What advice do you give parents about keeping their kids safe from injury or worse?

In kids, the most common causes of death and disability are trauma and accidents. At Children’s Hospital of Michigan, we focus on injury prevention, including emphasizing wearing helmets when riding bikes or scooters, keeping firearms locked up and ammunition locked in a separate location, and ensuring children are not alone around water. Additionally, we discuss the importance of making sure children are properly restrained when riding in vehicles.

If a child needs surgery, we focus on getting them back to being active as quickly as possible. We know how important it is for lifelong health for kids to be involved in sports and exercise, so once kids have recovered from surgery, we encourage a gradual return to sports and other activities as healing permits.

What are some recent innovations in your field that you’re excited about?

The field of pediatric neurosurgery is constantly advancing, and we are always looking for ways to treat children with less-invasive procedures by investing in technological advancements and state-of-the-art equipment. Some great examples of this at Children’s Hospital of Michigan are the use of laser therapy to treat focal seizures, which previously would require a much larger surgery, or our ability to treat hydrocephalus using a flexible endoscope, which reduces the need for additional surgeries.

This article originally appeared alongside Hour Detroit’s 2024 Top Docs List. Click here to read the full list .

T his story originally appeared in the October 2024 issue of Hour Detroit magazine . To read more, pick up a copy of Hour Detroit at a local retail outlet. Our digital edition will be available on Oct. 7.

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