Friday is the first day of high school football practice around the state. And with temperatures expected to be near 100 degrees during the next week, it’s important for coaches and players to remember that this time of year can turn tragic if proper medical precautions, proper heat-related procedures and proper tackling techniques aren’t followed.
According to a National Center for Catastrophic Sport Injury Research report, about 1.5 million students played high school and junior high football in 2007.
Three players died as the result of injuries sustained while tackling or being tackled, and six players died because of heart issues, heat stroke or blood clots.
The report recommends:
-- Every player should have a complete medical exam and medical history taken before practice begins.
-- Every heat stroke death can be prevented by taking proper precautions.
-- After one hour working out, players should rest 15-30 minutes in shaded areas with helmets and jerseys off.
-- Cold water should always be available to players in unlimited quantities.
-- Salt should be replaced daily through liberal salting of players’ food. Salt tablets should not be given to players.
-- Players should weigh each day before and after practice. Weight charts should be kept in order to treat players who lose excessive weight each day. A 3 percent body weight loss through sweating is safe. A 5 percent loss is in the danger zone.
-- Observe for signs of heat illness. These signs include nausea, incoherence, fatigue, weakness, vomiting, cramps, weak rapid pulse, flushed appearance, visual disturbances and unsteadiness. Heat stroke victims may sweat profusely.
-- Contact should always be made with the head up and never with the top of the head or helmet. Initial contact should never be made with the head, helmet or face mask. Coaches who teach helmet or face to the numbers tackling are breaking the rules and placing players at risk for permanent paralysis or death.
Players are not the only ones susceptible to serious injury or even death during football season.
Of 104 catastrophic injuries sustained by female high school and college athletes from 1982 to 2005 — head and spinal trauma that some times led to death — more than half resulted from cheerleading.
To avoid injury and death, cheerleaders should:
-- Practice and perform stunts on mats or pads.
-- Maintain proper spotting.
-- Employ the same heat-related precautions as football players.
While members of marching bands aren’t as susceptible to injury because of contact or stunts, they are very susceptible to heat-related illness and should also employ the aforementioned heat-related precautions.
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