Fairfield-Echo.com

(HealthDayNews) -- Each year, about 500,000 children under age 15 are treated for baseball-related injuries, according to the National SAFE KIDS Campaign.

The good news is many of these injuries could be prevented if players, coaches and parents practiced a few safety rules.

The American Academy of Orthopedic Surgeons offers these guidelines:

• Always provide time for kids to warm up and stretch.
• Insist they wear safety equipment that fits properly.
• They should wear a batting helmet with facial protection devices while at the plate, when waiting a turn at bat, and while running bases.
• Follow the guidelines about the number of innings pitched as specified by your baseball league, not by the number of teams played.
• Provide the appropriate mitt for their position.
• Catchers should always wear a helmet, face mask, throat guard, long-model chest protector, protective supporter, and shin guards.
• All players should wear molded, cleated baseball shoes that fit properly.