Amid concerns over sports head injuries and concussions in
the headlines, the San Mateo County civil grand jury has released a report
recommending local high schools perform neurological testing on all athletes
and that they hire a full time certified athletic trainer.
The neurological testing is a computerized test that
measures brain processing speed, visual and verbal memory and reaction time. If
the test is done at the beginning of the season it can find evidence of
previous issues and act as a baseline if any head injuries should occur later
in the season.
Half Moon Bay High School, through the financial efforts of
the Cougar Boosters, paid to have the neurological testing done in the
2012-2013 season for football players. With strains on the budget, the testing
was cut.
To administer the neurological testing for one year for up
to 800 athletes, with 150 post-injury tests, would cost the school $1,200, or
$800 for up to 500 athletes. Half Moon Bay has more than 500 athletes playing
each year.
Cabrillo Unified School District does not currently pay for
the testing nor for an athletic trainer. Half Moon Bay High School hired a
certified athletic trainer in 2011 through funding from the Cougar Boosters.
The budget, at $25,000, allows for a part-time position. Cougar Boosters
officials say they understand the importance of a full-time athletic trainer
and they are looking to increase the budget to $50,000 to afford a full-time
position.
It is mandatory that a certified athletic trainer, medical doctor
or emergency medical technicians be at all football games, but that rule does
not apply to other sports.
The athletic trainer at Half Moon Bay has an office near the
boys locker room where he addresses athlete injuries and health complaints. He
wraps them with ice and stretches athletes before and after games and practice
when needed. He also makes recommendations if the athlete should need further
care.
The La Honda-Pescadero Unified School District has neither
an athletic trainer nor has it conducted the neurological testing.
Having a full-time certified athletic trainer minimizes the
possible long-term affects of head injuries because the trainer is available to
assess the athlete properly and is trained in the protocol. Also, Half Moon Bay
High School could develop more sports programs if it had a full-time trainer on
staff.
The civil grand jury recommends individual school districts
find the necessary funding to pay for the testing and a certified athletic
trainer.
According to the grand jury report, 66 percent of high
school students play sports and 300,000 sports-related head injuries or
concussions occur annually in the United States.
The American Academy of Pediatrics reported that concussions
have risen 200 percent in the last decade among athletes between the ages of 14
and 19.
The grand jury notes that the biggest concern may be
allowing athletes to return to the sport too soon. California law states if the
athlete is diagnosed with a head injury or concussion, he or she cannot come
back to practice or games any earlier than seven days, following a day-to-day
protocol. The California Interscholastic Federation also enforces that athletes
be removed from the game or practice immediately if there is concern of a head
injury, and can only be released with clearance from a certified athletic
trainer or medical doctor. CIF has athletes and parents sign the concussion
information sheet at the start of the season.
The grand jury also recommends
schools keep records of all injuries because at this time there are no
statistics from the individual schools.
July 9, 2015
Half
Moon Bay Review
By Sonia
Myers
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