SEE INJURIES

The emergency room entrance to Saint Joseph Hospital in Denver, photographed in 2019.

PHOTO BY JOHN INGOLD/THE COLORADO SUN

INJURIES

injuries ramp up around Thanksgiving, which is the start of the holiday season, Usatch said. This is the time when families start putting out holiday decorations, hanging lights and signs.

Usatch said it is common for family members to venture into hanging lights and signs without someone serving as a spotter under the ladder. Common injuries associated with decoration hanging includes bruises, lacerations and broken bones.

“Just be safe and ask someone to serve as a spotter,” Usatch said. “It is easier to have the help there than to fall and break something, get a concussion or have lacerations.”

Hill said as Christmas celebrations are held and gifts are given throughout the season, hospitals see a variety of toy-related injuries and issues.

According to the Consumer Product Safety Commission (CPSC), in 2020 there were 198,000 toy-related injuries that required a visit to a U.S. hospital. Of those, males accounted for 57% of those injured and 75% of the total injured people were under age 14.

Hill said one of his biggest concerns around the holidays is with babies and toddlers who regularly stick something in their mouth, ear or nose.

“Kids tend to put the small pieces from toys in various places,” Hill said. “Kids will start complaining about pain and problems. When they come to us, we fi nd the pieces in the nose, ears or throat. These cases need special tools to fi sh them out.”

In situations where the child swallows a toy, Hill said the customary response from doctors is to wait. Doctors wait to see if the child can pass it naturally through a bowel movement.

In situations where a child swallows a magnet, such as the popular ball magnet toys, or a button battery, Hill said there is more concern.

“The button batteries cause more concern because their makeup can cause burning and pain inside the stomach,” Hill said. “The magnetic balls can attach and pinch the inside the intestine, causing bowel perforation. This can require surgery to fi x.”

Usatch and Hill said hospitals also see patients who are not used to the new toys and gadgets they get for Christmas. Without being used to a new bike, electric scooter, hover board or other riding toys, kids often fall and get hurt. Common injuries associated with riding toys can start with minor cuts and bruises or lead to more serious concerns with concussions and broken bones.

Usatch said a common rule of thumb for parents to follow with any riding toy is to make the helmet an accompanying gift.

Hill said he is always surprised with the older patients that come in on Christmas. It’s not just kids playing on the riding toys, he said.

“We have seen cases where grandparents will be out having fun and trying to ride the toys too,” Hill said. “This leads to them falling and getting hurt.”

Hill said in one case he managed, a 72-year-old grandmother tried to ride a hover board and ended up falling and breaking her hip.

Both Usatch and Hill said parents should read consumer studies on toys and gadgets, making sure they are age-appropriate and understanding the common injuries that are reported with each item.

Over the last few years, drones and fl ying toys have become a popular item. Either fl ying them inside or outside, Usatch and Hill said, inexperienced users can mismanage them and either hurt themselves or others in the process. Eye injuries are common with some of the fl ying toys, Usatch said.

This year, due to supply-chain issues, Hill said parents might be trying to fi nd whatever they can, which means buying more generic, knockoff items that may be more unsafe than the name-brand options.

In this case, Hill stressed parents should pay attention to the consumer reports because generic versions could be more dangerous.

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ThunderRidge shows why it’s top-ranked

Hoops team wins 78-62 over Eaglecrest with balanced scoring

BY JIM BENTON JBENTON@COLORADOCOMMUNITYMEDIA.COM

Defending state Class 5A state basketball champions and topranked ThunderRidge knocked off another high-profi le opponent on Dec. 14 in the Grizzlies gym.

Coach Joe Ortiz’s Highlands Ranch team got balanced scoring and downed eighth-ranked Centennial-area Eaglecrest, 78-62.

ThunderRidge, atop the Dec. 13 CHSAANow 5A state rankings. is now 4-0 this season which includes wins over No. 3 Fossil Ridge and No. 6 Smoky Hill.

ThunderRidge still has nonleague games remaining against George Washington, Valor Christian, No.7 Cherry Creek, Fairview, Broomfi eld and Ralston Valley before heading into the Continental League which has No. 2 Rock Canyon, No. 4 Chaparral, No. 10 Douglas County and rival Mountain Vista, all Douglas County schools.

“We’ve always had that kind of schedule,” said Ortiz, whose teams have gone 145-32 over the past seven seasons. “Then RPI came out and you wanted that kind of schedule. From year to year teams go up and down but we’ve always tried to keep that kind of schedule, play teams in the Centennial League. We want to play athletic teams because that’s going to prepare you but we’re just happy to be playing this year.

“It’s been a tough schedule but it’s not going to get easier in the league. Teams will be ready to play us. You have to guard against letdowns. That’s a position you want to be, you want to have a target on your back. But it sucks too.”

Eaglecrest made 13 3-point baskets in the game to keep the score close for three quarters, but the Raptors had no answer for ThunderRidge’s balanced scoring. The Grizzlies went on a 17-3 run early in the fourth quarter to pull away.

Andrew Crawford, a 6-foot-5 forward, scored 19 points including eight of the Grizzlies’ fi rst 10 points.

“I thought Crawford had a breakout game,” said Ortiz. “He’s a sophomore, he’s showed promise and done good things but in a bigger environment he had some really big takes against big-time players. I thought that was his blowout game.”

Jackson Brennan, a 6-3 senior, had 16 points, senior Thomas Walkowisk added 14 points, 6-9 senior Zach Keller had 13 points and 6-8 Joey Bilello fi nished with 10 points.

“Jackson has been so steady,” added Ortiz. “Zach is obviously the guy and Joey’s been right there with him. We have a pretty good core.”

The balanced scoring is nothing new.

“That’s been the case with our better teams.” Ortiz continued. “We’ll have balanced scoring at the end of the season, I would think. Different guys might have big games.

“Eaglecrest shot the ball well. You have to give them credit how they shot on the road. They are dangerous.”

Senior Mostapha El Moutaouakkil had a game-high 24 points for Eaglecrest.

The Grizzlies entertained George Washington (3-2) on Dec. 21 and Ortiz will borrow words from Duke coach Mike Krzyzewski and former Army, Indiana and Texas Tech coach Bobby Knight to avoid a letdown.

“I heard Coach K and he felt that there’s no question how hard the games are that you are suppose to win,” said Ortiz. “I totally feel that. Then it goes to Bobby Knight ... big game and next game is a letdown.

“The kids will get up for the big games. Some of my more colorful, intense halftime speeches have been against lesser teams because I fear for a letdown. Out kids are resilient and they are pretty good.”

Thomas Walkowiak (12) of ThunderRidge drives down the lane in the Dec. 14 game against Eaglecrest. Walkowiak had 14 points and top-ranked ThunderRidge rolled to a

78-62 victory. PHOTOS BY JIM BENTON

ThunderRidge coach Joe Ortiz shouts some instructions during the Dec. 14 game against Eaglecrest.

CHSAA announces hall of fame class

Inductees include longtime local volleyball coach

STAFF REPORT

The Colorado High School Activities Association announced its hall of fame class Dec. 15. One of the new members has ties to Douglas County and Chaparral high schools.

T.R. Ellis was a volleyball coach for those two programs, plus one at Olathe High School.

During that time, Ellis posted a 467-288 record and won state championships in 2010 and 2011, with the 2011 team going undefeated.

Ellis was named a league Coach of the Year seven times, the 5A Coach of the Year in 2005 and 2011, and the Colorado Coaches of Girls Sports all-state coach in 1990, 1995 and 2006.

“While Ellis has a stellar coaching record, she will always be remembered for how she treated her players,” said a statement from CHSAA. “The qualities now promoted nationally by the InsideOut initiative came naturally to Ellis, making her a favorite among game workers, players, and many others.”

Other inductees include one athletic administrator, Paul Cain (Grand Junction Central and Basalt), Gary Glover (former Loveland coach), activity coach Marti Benham (Cherry Creek) and former Cherry Creek multisport athlete Darnell McDonald

“I am really excited about the CHSAA Hall of Fame class of 2021. It encompasses the diversity and inclusivity that mirrors and shapes the priorities of high-school activities and athletics as an association,” CHSAA Commissioner Rhonda Blanford-Green said in a statement. “The selection committee continues to embrace the unique experiences and impact of not just our inductees, but of all who are nominated for this honor.”

The induction ceremony is set for April 20 at the Hyatt Regency Aurora-Denver Conference Center, 13200 E. 14th Place, Aurora.