Cheerleading is popular in the United States, and with sports resuming this spring, cheerleaders will potentially be back on the sidelines, doing a variety of stunts.

These stunts include tumbling, acrobatics, and strength, so safety is a priority, and that’s why March has been identified as National Cheerleading Safety Month.

It’s really easy for someone to get hurt doing some of these stunts. This month is a chance to remind people of the importance of staying safe, and an even more focused time period – National Cheerleading Week – introduces the month.

Cheerleading has strict rules and guidelines to manage tossing, placements and other moves. If a participant messes up one thing, someone could end up landing of falling somewhere they aren’t supposed to be, which could cause the whole routine to be messed up, but, more importantly, it could result in someone getting hurt.

Athletic ability paired with safety helps keep cheerleaders spirits high, which makes them more confident, and that confidence prevents serious injuries. Safety starts with exercises to strengthen the muscles and continues with careful execution of the stunts, but because there are risks, it is important to always have some safety equipment handy, including a first aid kit.