The Association of Pediatric Primary Care of the Canary Islands (APap Canary Islands) has alerted this Thursday about the serious injuries that can be caused by the practice of traditional Tables of San Andres in the north of Tenerife, and has requested that security measures be implemented for minors.
The APap has decided to send a statement about this tradition, which is celebrated on November 30 in Icod of the Wineswhere it comes from, in addition to La Guancha and San Juan de la Rambla, with the aim of “always” ensuring the health and safety of minors, specialists say.
In this regard, he points out that every year there are accidents at these festivities, some of them very serious, with important consequences for the child who suffers it and therefore the protection of the minor’s head is essential. On this matter, the Neurosurgery and Traumatology services of the University Hospital of the Canary Islands (HUC) have also alerted two years ago as a result of three serious accidents “that could have been fatal for the minors involved,” adds the APap.
Pediatricians remember that the boards can reach 20-30 kilometers per hour, depending on the street they are dragged on and the material they are made of. There are many factors that can contribute to an accident and for this reason the use of a helmet “is undoubtedly the main preventive measure to avoid possible brain injuries, serious cervical damage or even death”, say the specialists, who advise that this protection mechanism not only be used when dragging the board, but all the time due to the risk of trauma that could be caused by colliding with other people’s boards.
They also ask for a greater deployment of devices and means of both health personnel and Civil Protection in order to avoid risky attitudes and behaviors.
The APap affirms that it has contacted the mayors of Icod de los Vinos, Francisco González, and of San Juan de la Rambla, Ezequiel Domínguez, whom it thanks for their collaboration in order to develop a series of feasible recommendations that minimize risks of serious injury to minors. These include the aforementioned wearing a helmet to protect the occiput, avoiding methacrylate boards and using wooden ones, and wearing work gloves, knee and elbow pads, as well as clothing that protects arms and legs.
Pediatricians also ask that minors not throw themselves down steep streets or that they are not authorized for this practice and that there is always supervision by parents, especially to avoid alcohol consumption. Another measure proposed by the APap is to maintain an adequate safety distance between the participants and to notify the observers of the descent of the tables.
“We are aware that it is an ancient festivity, with a great tradition, but it entails significant risks for minors that must be tried to be prevented”, summarize the Primary Care paediatricians. EFE asd
