What increases the risk of injury?

When you're playing or running around, things that make it harder for your body to handle increase the risk of injury.

Imagine you’re climbing a tree like your friend Timmy. If the tree is tall and you're still learning how to climb, it's easier to fall, just like when you’re not used to something hard. That’s one way risk increases: if you're not ready for what you're doing.

• Being tired is like having a sleepy brain while climbing: your body doesn’t work as well, so mistakes happen more easily.
• Not warming up is like jumping right into the middle of a race without stretching, your muscles are surprised and can get hurt faster.
• Doing too much too fast is like eating ten cookies in one go when you’re used to just one. Your body gets overwhelmed and might crash.

So, if something makes it harder for your body or brain to handle what you're doing, it’s more likely you’ll get hurt, just like Timmy fell from the tree because he was too high and not ready.