Thursday, March 31, 2011
DALLAS, March 31, 2011 –It seems that every day we read, see or hear about another youth sports injury on the playing field: in 2011 alone, at least four young athletes have died; and in 2010, 50 deaths were reported. Recent attention to new concussion protocols in several professional leagues and the risk of chronic or catastrophic injury from other conditions including sudden cardiac arrest and heat illness has reinforced the urgent need for immediate and improved youth sports health care. As a result, legislation in 32 states and the District of Columbia has been introduced, and in some cases passed, to ensure the safety of today’s young athletes – but not quickly enough.
The National Athletic Trainers’ Association (NATA) has remained an ardent supporter of youth sports safety and has repeatedly addressed the need for increased education, awareness and swift and comprehensive legislative action. With the support of more than 40 sports and health organizations, NATA hosted its second Youth Sports Safety Summit late last year as follow up to its creation of the Youth Sports Safety Alliance and first Summit in early 2010. NATA also announced a partnership with the National Football League to promote the passage of concussion legislation.
The association continues to champion these efforts; however, legislative change has been slow: In the first three months of 2011, more than 75 bills were introduced, yet only five have been signed into law. With most state legislative sessions ending within the next month, NATA remains steadfast in promoting the passage of many of these important bills.
“It is disappointing that so much legislation been introduced, yet so little has been passed,” said Marjorie J. Albohm, MS, ATC, NATA president. “What makes this even more concerning is that state budgets are in crisis, so legislators are cutting programs that keep kids safe. In many cases athletic trainer positions are at risk of being terminated – eliminating the very people who protect and provide medical services to physically active children. And, we know that many of the current bills are specific to concussion and that there are other health conditions including sudden cardiac arrest and heat illness that require legislative attention.”
The Legislative Landscape
Only five bills have been enacted, including South Dakota’s SB 149, which requires the state high school association to develop guidelines for concussion education among parents, coaches and students, and requires removal from athletic activity for students with suspected concussion; Utah’s Protection of Athletes with Head Injuries Act requires parental informed consent and removal from play without medical clearance after a concussion; and with passage in Wyoming of SF 38, training for coaches will be required, along with education of students, parents and guardians regarding head injury and concussion. In New Jersey, the Senate passed Resolution 75 to encourage school districts to improve staff and student preparedness for incidents of sudden cardiac arrest. Colorado’s SB 40 (the Jake Snakenberg Concussion Act) was signed into law on March 29.
Youth Sports Injuries Continue to Draw National Attention:
The Statistics Speak for Themselves
More than 421,000 young men and women participate on more than 17,800 NCAA sponsored sports teams1 and more than seven million high school students play sports today. There are a reported 715,000 high school sports-related injuries experienced each year, and8,000 children are treated in emergency rooms each day for sports-related injuries.2
According to the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC), high school athletes suffer two million injuries, 500,000 doctor visits, and 30,000 hospitalizations each year. “With young athletes participating in year-round play both at school and on youth league and travel teams, it is critical for coaches, parents, athletic trainers, administrators, and others to ensure the safety of student athletes, yet only 42 percent of high schools have access to athletic training services,” Albohmsaid.
“The continued enactment of legislation will help keep our young athletes safe,” Albohm concluded. “Without immediate and on-site care, appropriate and trained medical professionals on the sidelines and field to prevent and treat injuries, we put our young athletes at risk each and every day.”
Here is an overview of current state legislative efforts. For more information on youth sport safety, please visit Youth Sport Safety Allilance.
1 NCAA Sports Sponsorship and Participation Rates Report for 2008-2009
2 Wier, L. (Thomson Reuters), Miller, A. (Student), and Steiner, C. (AHRQ). Sports Injuries in Children Requiring Hospital Emergency Care, 2006. HCUP Statistical Brief #75. June 2009.
NATA Continues to Encourage Passage of Your
National Athletic Trainers’ Association (NATA) – Health Care for Life & Sport
Athletic trainers are health care professionals who specialize in the prevention, diagnosis, treatment and rehabilitation of injuries and sport-related illnesses. They prevent and treat chronic musculoskeletal injuries from sports, physical and occupational activity, and provide immediate care for acute injuries. Athletic trainers offer a continuum of care that is unparalleled in health care. The National Athletic Trainers' Association represents and supports 34,000 members of the athletic training profession.
The National Athletic Trainers’ Association (NATA) has remained an ardent supporter of youth sports safety and has repeatedly addressed the need for increased education, awareness and swift and comprehensive legislative action. With the support of more than 40 sports and health organizations, NATA hosted its second Youth Sports Safety Summit late last year as follow up to its creation of the Youth Sports Safety Alliance and first Summit in early 2010. NATA also announced a partnership with the National Football League to promote the passage of concussion legislation.
The association continues to champion these efforts; however, legislative change has been slow: In the first three months of 2011, more than 75 bills were introduced, yet only five have been signed into law. With most state legislative sessions ending within the next month, NATA remains steadfast in promoting the passage of many of these important bills.
“It is disappointing that so much legislation been introduced, yet so little has been passed,” said Marjorie J. Albohm, MS, ATC, NATA president. “What makes this even more concerning is that state budgets are in crisis, so legislators are cutting programs that keep kids safe. In many cases athletic trainer positions are at risk of being terminated – eliminating the very people who protect and provide medical services to physically active children. And, we know that many of the current bills are specific to concussion and that there are other health conditions including sudden cardiac arrest and heat illness that require legislative attention.”
The Legislative Landscape
Only five bills have been enacted, including South Dakota’s SB 149, which requires the state high school association to develop guidelines for concussion education among parents, coaches and students, and requires removal from athletic activity for students with suspected concussion; Utah’s Protection of Athletes with Head Injuries Act requires parental informed consent and removal from play without medical clearance after a concussion; and with passage in Wyoming of SF 38, training for coaches will be required, along with education of students, parents and guardians regarding head injury and concussion. In New Jersey, the Senate passed Resolution 75 to encourage school districts to improve staff and student preparedness for incidents of sudden cardiac arrest. Colorado’s SB 40 (the Jake Snakenberg Concussion Act) was signed into law on March 29.
Youth Sports Injuries Continue to Draw National Attention:
The Statistics Speak for Themselves
More than 421,000 young men and women participate on more than 17,800 NCAA sponsored sports teams1 and more than seven million high school students play sports today. There are a reported 715,000 high school sports-related injuries experienced each year, and8,000 children are treated in emergency rooms each day for sports-related injuries.2
According to the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC), high school athletes suffer two million injuries, 500,000 doctor visits, and 30,000 hospitalizations each year. “With young athletes participating in year-round play both at school and on youth league and travel teams, it is critical for coaches, parents, athletic trainers, administrators, and others to ensure the safety of student athletes, yet only 42 percent of high schools have access to athletic training services,” Albohmsaid.
“The continued enactment of legislation will help keep our young athletes safe,” Albohm concluded. “Without immediate and on-site care, appropriate and trained medical professionals on the sidelines and field to prevent and treat injuries, we put our young athletes at risk each and every day.”
Here is an overview of current state legislative efforts. For more information on youth sport safety, please visit Youth Sport Safety Allilance.
1 NCAA Sports Sponsorship and Participation Rates Report for 2008-2009
2 Wier, L. (Thomson Reuters), Miller, A. (Student), and Steiner, C. (AHRQ). Sports Injuries in Children Requiring Hospital Emergency Care, 2006. HCUP Statistical Brief #75. June 2009.
NATA Continues to Encourage Passage of Your
National Athletic Trainers’ Association (NATA) – Health Care for Life & Sport
Athletic trainers are health care professionals who specialize in the prevention, diagnosis, treatment and rehabilitation of injuries and sport-related illnesses. They prevent and treat chronic musculoskeletal injuries from sports, physical and occupational activity, and provide immediate care for acute injuries. Athletic trainers offer a continuum of care that is unparalleled in health care. The National Athletic Trainers' Association represents and supports 34,000 members of the athletic training profession.