Understanding the Importance of Sports Safety for In-School and Recreational Activities
Sports injuries can lead to long-term physical and mental adverse effects
Sports are an integral part of many people’s lives from childhood all the way through adulthood. Unfortunately, there are many inherent dangers associated with contact sports such as football, lacrosse, hockey and soccer. As children are often exposed to sports at an early age it is important to understand how to prevent serious head trauma that can lead to serious problems later in life. School systems and extracurricular recreational programs must take specific steps to protect participants from preventable injuries.
Recent headlines concerning the prevalence of Chronic Traumatic Encephalopathy (CTE) in former National Football League (NFL) players have highlighted the dangers of repetitive head trauma. CTE is a progressive neurodegenerative brain disease that manifests in a wide range of symptoms including depression, anxiety, memory loss, impaired cognition and occasionally suicidal tendencies. CTE can only be diagnosed postmortem via an autopsy. A large study published in the Journal of the American Medical Association (JAMA) identified the condition in the brains of 177 out of 202 former high school, college and professional football players. While further research is needed to fully understand the causal link between sports-related head trauma and conditions such as CTE, this information highlights the importance of taking proactive steps to prevent concussions and brain injuries.
The start of a new school year is just around the corner and sports safety in school is one of the primary areas of concern among parents. Children and adolescents are still undergoing physical and mental developments that can be impaired by repeated head trauma. One of the best ways to prevent serious injuries is through the use of personal protective equipment. Helmets can greatly reduce the likelihood of concussion while shoulder pads and shin guards prevent broken bones. Old or broken protective gear may not offer the same level of protection and it’s important for schools and other sports programs to regularly inspect and replace defective equipment.
Concussions and other sports injuries can cause debilitating and long-term consequences for victims and their caregivers. If you or your child has been injured in a sports-related accident, you may be able to recover compensation for your damages. The dedicated sports injury attorneys at Leonard Legal Group in New Jersey are here to provide the legal resources and advice you need to understand your options and make the best decisions for your family. To schedule a free initial consultation, call 973-984-1414 or send an email.