2019 - A Very Disturbing Year in Youth Sports Safety
34 Youth Athlete Deaths - Click Here for the List
This is more than disturbing. This is a travesty. The same issues again and again. Lack of preparation, lack of oversight, lack of communication, lack of documentation, lack of education.
Heat, Heart, Brain, Asthma, Suicide, Infection, Blood Clot
Lots of talk about the concern for athlete safety, but precious little action. In many of these cases we do not know the full story. For example, most of the stories do not state whether or not an AED was on site? Parents - do you know if there is an AED on site where your child plays sports? Are the stakeholders involved trained in CPR and how to use the AED?
What are the action steps which must be taken to make youth sports as safe as possible?
They are right here: Best Practices for Youth Sports Safety
Let's highlight a few areas:
1. "He or she was perfectly healthy, had no signs or symptoms." Maybe this is really not the case. Become a better observer. Have you reviewed this with your child and pediatrician? See these questions which could save a life.
2. We can't say this one enough. CPR training for all coaches and an AED field/court side. Period. If this is not the case in your child's youth sports organization, either demand it happen or remove your child and find an organization that will take your child's safety seriously.
3. The same for heat preparation. Heat education for all coaches and an ice bath field side. We must also ask the question, "Is the requirement that a WBGT be purchased really going to save lives? (the new NJ Legislation) Who will train the coaches on how to use it? Will the readings be recorded? Where? How will they be communicated? Who is making the decision on whether or not to practice/play? How is that decision communicated? In real time? What is important is that the ice bath be available for every practice/game, filled with water, ice to fill it is immediately available, and that the coaches are trained to know when to use it! We don't need a WBGT to know that it is hot outside and the reading is of no use if the ice bath is not ready to go.
4. Mental Health. This area also flies under the radar. Listen to Bryce Gowdy's mom here.
Parents, you simply MUST be present, ask questions and DEMAND safety training, procedures, and equipment be in place.
It is YOUR CHILD out there. Think about that carefully.
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Schedule a free 30 minute safety and risk assessment with Dr. Steve Horwitz, CEO and Founder of TeamSafe®Sports and prepare today!
Click here: calendly.com/drstevenhorwitz
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