10-Second Sideline Concussion Test

Source: sadlersports.com - 10-Second Sideline Concussion Test
Author: John M. Sadler

 Software tracks eye movement on iPad

As the sports world continues to focus on concussions, it’s no wonder innovators are coming up with faster, smarter ways to detect a brain injuries. EyeGuide, start-up group out of Texas, has introduced a concussion

EyeGuide’s Focus technology uses a headset connected to an iPad to track eye movement. Users set a baseline reading and then repeat the test when it’s suspected they may have suffered a concussion. Coaches can have each player take the test at the beginning of the season to set their normal baseline eye function. The Focus is then used on the sidelines for immediate comparison on players suspected of suffering concussions.

New technology using known methods of concussion detection.

EyeGuide’s Focus system was developed after years of research at Texas Tech University. The software quickly measures neurological impairment following protocols established in neuroscience research. There are similar products on the market aimed at aiding coaches and trainers to detect concussions immediately.

Eyeguide explains the Focus technology in layman’s terms by comparing it to the follow-my-finger eye test given to suspected drunk drivers.

Players avoiding concussion diagnosis vs. intelligent technology

Approximately 500,000 concussions are reported in youth sports across the U.S. each year, according to the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention.  Eyeguide, knowing that even more concussion go unreported, took into account that players fear being removed from play if they report symptoms of a concussion.The Focus technology gets smarter with use as it compares each player’s eye movements with a database of other athlete’s records. This prevents players from cheating the system.

Company still awaiting funding

The company is still awaiting start-up financing, which it believes to be imminent. Therefore, the product has not yet hit the market.

Sadler Sports & Recreation Insurance is all about safety and injury prevention. We offer more information on concussion research and prevention on our blog and free concussion risk management resources in our risk management library.

---

Source:  Mary-Ann Russon, “EyeGuide Focus: This eye-tracking headset can diagnose concussions in just 10 seconds,” www.ibtimes.co.uk. 3 Dec. 2015.

Read Full Story: http://www.sadlersports.com/blog/10-second-sideline-concussion-test/

Penn State settlements in sex abuse lawsuits reach $93M

Source: sadlersports.com - Penn State settlements in sex abuse lawsuits reach $93M
Author: John M. Sadler

Settlements average $2.9 million per claim.

Six of Jerry Sandusky’s sexual abuse accusers have settled with Penn State, bringing the total paid out thus far to $93 million. It is possible there are still outstanding claims that will be paid out in the future. A university audit statement shows the school has paid or agreed to pay 32 claims, according to a Nov. 25 WJAC-TV report.

Sandusky, serving a 30 to 60 year prison sentence, is appealing his conviction for 45 counts of sexual abuse that was at the center of a 2012 scandal. There are appeals rulings pending against three former administrators at the university who are seeking to have charges of covering up abuse complaints dropped.The court recently restored Sandusky’s pension from Penn State.

Last month, a case brought by Victim 6 against Penn State and Sandusky’s charity The Second Mile was dismissed after a confidential settlement was reached. In October 2013, the university settled with 26 people for $59.7 million and last April, the university’s board of trustees authorized settlement of additional Sandusky-related suits.

While your sports organization will likely never be embroiled in a lawsuit of this magnitude, sex abuse and molestation are very real risks within youth sports. We offer free risk management material to help prevent sex abuse. Many of our General Liability programs include coverage for sex abuse & molestation. To get a quote, visit www.sadlersports.com and click on “get quote”.

---

Source: “Penn State’s Sandusky Settlement Total Nearly $94M,” insurancejournal.com. 30 Nov. 2015.

Read Full Story: http://www.sadlersports.com/blog/penn-state-settlements-in-sex-abuse-lawsuits-reach-93m/

U.S. Soccer Federation Sets New Header Rules For Ages 13 & Under

Source: sadlersports.com - U.S. Soccer Federation Sets New Header Rules For Ages 13 & Under
Author: John M. Sadler

Reducing exposure to head injuries in the youngest players

New safety regulations were announced by the United States Soccer Federation in an effort to reduce the number of head injuries. These include the specific policy that restricts players under age 10 from heading the ball and reducing headers during practice for players aged 11 to 13.

Establishment of the new guidelines resolves a class-action lawsuit filed against FIFA, U.S. Soccer and the American Youth Soccer Organization alleging negligence in treating and monitoring head injuries. Plaintiffs sought no financial compensation, only changes to the rules.

The guidelines are mandatory for all national U.S. Soccer youth teams and academies, which includes Major League Soccer youth club teams. They will serve as recommendations for associations and program not overseen by U.S. Soccer.

Recommendations go beyond heading the ball

Modifications were also made to substitution rules in an attempt to protect players suspected of having suffered concussions. The current rules are for three substitutions per game, but don’t allow for temporary substitutions so players sustaining a head injury can be properly examined.

The new initiative also calls for increased education for parents, players, coaches and referees, as well uniformity in handling youth concussions. The intention of these educational efforts could will lead to a better understanding and acceptance of the heading rules for children.

---

Source: Ben Strauss, U.S. Soccer Resolving Lawsuit Will Limit Headers.” nytimes.com. 09 Nov, 2015.

Read Full Story: http://www.sadlersports.com/blog/u-s-soccer-federation-sets-new-header-rules-for-ages-13-under/

Concussion Paranoia Trend in Youth Tackle Football on Decline

Source: sadlersports.com - Concussion Paranoia Trend in Youth Tackle Football on Decline
Author: John M. Sadler

Many mainstream media outlets, bloggers and brain injury research groups have had a field day so far in reporting on the dangers of concussions and CTE and how youth tackle football is very dangerous. It seems as if many of them need for football to be very dangerous to further their interests. Generally, those in the media need an entertained audience and research groups need continued funding.

We recently blogged about two events that represent a return to common sense. The first is a report published by the American Academy of Pediatrics on safety in youth tackle football. The second is news that a judge dismissed a concussion class-action lawsuit against the Illinois High School Association. Interestingly enough, neither of these two events have received any significant amount of press.

Just to be clear, the media and these brain injury research groups have served an important function in the education of players, parents, administrators and staff on the dangers of concussions and too early return to play. They also reinforced the need for mandatory concussion risk management protocols that must be implemented by local youth tackle football organizations. Please see our youth tackle football brain injury risk management program under the concussion resources of the risk management page on our website. However, talk of widespread brain damage in youth football and the need to ban football is not based in science.

Read Full Story: http://www.sadlersports.com/blog/concussion-paranoia-trend-in-youth-tackle-football-on-decline/

AAP Makes Safety Recommendations for Youth Tackle Football

Source: sadlersports.com - AAP Makes Safety Recommendations for Youth Tackle Football
Author: John M. Sadler

American Academy of Pediatrics says no need to delay teaching of proper tackling techniques to younger age groups

The American Academy of Pediatrics is tackling the issue of safety in youth football with new recommendations published in this month’s issue of Pediatrics. The AAP statement is a result of research on football injuries, head and neck injuries in particular, and the connection between tackling to football-related injuries.

The main points of the AAP recommendations are:

• Enforcement of proper tackling methods by officials and coaches, i.e. not tolerating head-first tackles.


• Informing players about the benefits of play vs. potential risk of injury.


• Offering more players opportunities to play through expansion of non-tackle leagues.


• Putting athletic trainers on the field to assist in preventing injuries.

No perfect answers to safety risks

The removal or delay of introducing tackling are ideas that get floated regularly. According to Greg Landry, co-author of AAP’s recommendation statement, delaying the tackling experience until players are older and stronger could actually result in higher injury rates. The AAP would not go so far as to recommend removing tackling from youth football. Doing so would “dramatically reduce the risk of serious injuries to players, but it would fundamentally change the sport,” said William Meehan, III, a co-author of the statement.

The AAP stance is that proper tackling techniques should be taught early, even if tackling isn’t incorporated into the game. The AAP also encourages reducing the impact to players’ heads through ongoing coach instruction in proper tackling methods.

Tackle football is played by nearly 1.1 million high school players and consistently ranks as one of the most popular sports for youth athletes. There are untold millions  more ranging from 5 to 15 years of age playing in youth leagues.

In my opinion

These common sense recommendations help to restore balance when so many are trying to stir the pot and predict the “end of football” for their self serving interests. The bottom line is that all sports and recreational activities involve risks, but in most cases, the benefits outweigh the risks. I do question whether youth leagues can afford to have athletic trainers on the sidelines at every practice.

---

Source: “The American Academy of Pediatrics Tackles Youth Football Injuries.” aap.org. 25 Oct. 2015.

Read Full Story: http://www.sadlersports.com/blog/aap-makes-safety-recommendations-for-youth-tackle-football/

IL High School Assn. Concussion Class-action Lawsuit Dismissed

Source: sadlersports.com - IL High School Assn. Concussion Class-action Lawsuit Dismissed
Author: John M. Sadler

Judge uses head in rendering decision

An Illinois concussion class-action lawsuit, which is the first concussion class action against a state high school association, has been dismissed. The suit was filed by players against the Illinois High School Association. The judge ruled that IHSA has put policies in place to improve the safety of the game and minimize brain injury risks. Judge Leroy Martin, Jr. also stated that mandating costly requirements would only cause football to be unaffordable for many schools.

The judge recognized IHSA’s efforts to protect student athletes, and that it has no direct relationship to football or the plaintiffs. In addition, his written decision read in part, “Imposing broader liability on this defendant would certainly change the sport of football and potentially harm it or cause it to be abandoned.”

The suit against the IHSA is the first of its kind against an organization overseeing high school football. The plaintiffs were asking the court to supervise high school management of football head injuries and seeking payment for medical testing of former students who played from as far back as 2002. The suit’s lead plaintiff played from 2010 to 2014 and states he continues to suffer memory loss from injuries suffered during that time.

The arguments

IHSA argued that it’s not an NFL-like cash cow and has an annual revenue of only $10 million to cover over 40 sports and other activities among the state’s high schools. There would be no room in the budget to comply with any requirements imposed by the court, according Thomas Heiden, the attorney representing IHSA.  He also argued that covering the payment the plaintiffs requested would lead to poorer schools shutting down their football programs and leaving only the students in wealthy schools eligible to participate.

According to plaintiffs’ attorney Joe Siprut, IHSA was giving the false notion that high school football is being threatened, and that improved safety would lead to its survival. He argued that the sport is already in danger since many fearful parents are not allowing their students to play.

In my opinion

This is a common sense ruling that may help to restore some balance against the media and research group-induced paranoia that evidently needs youth and high school football to be very dangerous to serve their interests. But, of course, this is just a trial court ruling and we probably have not seen the last of these. The good news is that the educational outreach programs and new risk management protocols seem to be having a positive impact.

---

Source: Michael Tarm and Sara Burnett, “Judge Tosses Concussions Lawsuit,” insurancejournal.com. 20 Oct., 2015.

Read Full Story: http://www.sadlersports.com/blog/il-high-school-assn-concussion-class-action-lawsuit-dismissed/

Death in Fitness Club Steamroom

Source: sadlersports.com - Death in Fitness Club Steamroom
Author: John M. Sadler

Ignored safety protocol ends in tragedy.

Businesses train their employees on opening and closing routines such as turning alarms on and off to closing out cash registers. There are security and safety reasons for these protocols. The death of a 24 Hour Fitness member is a tragic illustration of why it’s imperative that such routines be followed.

The body of a 77-year-old woman was found in a Colorado 24 Hour Fitness steam room by two members at 7:45 a.m. Apparently, the woman passed out in the steam room, which she accessed some time after 1 p.m. the previous afternoon. She died of renal failure resulting from dehydration, according to the coroner’s report.

24 Hour Fitness has a policy that employees are to conduct “team cleans” of the club every hour. And it’s obvious that the closing employee failed to checking that everyone had left the building before closing for the night.

Unfortunately, a similar incident occurred at another 24 Hour Fitness club in California in 2014. The body of a 60-year-old man was discovered in the sauna by the cleaning crew an hour after the club’s midnight closing.

It’s important to note that such tragedies could happen at any fitness club. It’s easy for employees begin to think of the daily and hourly walk-throughs as mundane and unnecessary when no incidents take place over the course of days, weeks and months. Fitness club owners and managers need to continually stress the importance of being alert and following the safety protocols that are in place. These two deaths can serve as examples why the policies are in place.

And to make matters worse, a wrongful death lawsuit could be filed by the victim’s family, which could financially ruin the club, the club owner and the employees involved.

We offer other helpful risk management articles on our blog for fitness clubs and fitness trainers.

---

Source: Pamela Kufahl, “Woman’s Undiscovered Death in Steam Room,” clubindustry.com. 14 July, 2015.

 

 

Read Full Story: http://www.sadlersports.com/blog/death-in-fitness-club-steamroom/

Immediate Sideline Detection of Concussion

Source: sadlersports.com - Immediate Sideline Detection of Concussion
Author: John M. Sadler

Vision test is new tool for concussion detection

The estimated 4 million sports-related concussions that occur nationwide every year are getting lots of attention from the media and medical professionals. And it looks like scientists have come up with a simple and reliable test to quickly determine on the sidelines whether or not an athlete has sustained a concussion.

Results of the study

The King-Devick vision test measures how rapidly athletes can read a series of numbers. Studies revealed 86 percent reliability in detecting concussions in athletes to whom the tests were administered. The determinations were later clinically confirmed. When the vision test was administered along with balance and cognition assessments, detection of concussions was 100 percent.

The New York University Langone Concussion Center review included 1,419 pro hockey players and amateur, college and youth football, hockey basketball, rugby, boxing, soccer, and lacrosse players. Concussions were sustained by 112 of the participants.

Vision plays an important role in the diagnosis of concussions and their potential long term effects. There is a vast network of visual pathways in the brain, and disruptions in these pathways can be a sign of a brain injury. Earlier studies using the rapid number reading tests show a correlation between lowered scores and other neurological conditions such as multiple sclerosis,  ALS, and Parkinson’s disease.

Sideline administration

Coaches can administer baseline testing on athletes before the season starts to be used for comparison in the event of a suspected concussion. Uninjured athletes tend to improve their reading time by 1.9 seconds later in the season, while those tested immediately after sustaining a concussion averaged 4.8 seconds longer than their baseline times.

Subscriptions to the King-Devick vision test kits are currently available for $20 per athlete, which includes unlimited screenings throughout the subscription year.

Only a medical professional should diagnose a concussion.  But since there isn’t always a physician on the field, the King-Devick vision test is an effective tool to help parents, coaches, and trainers on the sidelines determine if an athlete should be removed from play, according Laura Balcer, co-director of the Langone Concussion Center and a professor of neurology.

There can be a lot of chaos on the sidelines, so anything that helps eliminate guesswork is needed, said Steven Galetta, co-author of the study, which was published in the September, 2015 issues of Concussion.

We have more information on concussions and concussion prevention on our blog.

---

Source: “Vision testing effective for concussion detection,” Sporting Kid Live, nays.org. 11 Sept, 2015.

Read Full Story: http://www.sadlersports.com/blog/immediate-sideline-detection-of-concussion/

Zip Line Safety

Source: sadlersports.com - Zip Line Safety
Author: John M. Sadler

Lowering the risk of aerial adventures

What was once a means to access forest canopies for ecological research is now a rapidly growing adventure experience offered in many forests, amusement parks and ski resorts across the country. Many forest zip line tours continue to encourage ecology awareness and appreciation, while others are primarily promoting them as an aerial adventure to thrill-seeking tourists.

An estimated 18 million people fly via zip lines each year making it one of the fastest growing commercial adventures, according to the Association for Challenge Course Technology (ACCT). But along with the excitement and thrills comes the risk of serious injuries if safety precautions aren’t taken and equipment isn’t properly maintained.

A typical zip line course consists of cables traversing and crossing a route that slopes downward across a forest, canyon, body of water, valley, or ravine. Access to the zip line is usually via ground-level platforms, stairways, or ladders. Participants are protected from falls with harnesses, lanyards,and clips ,and are often required to wear helmets. Speed and braking are controlled either by a guide, gravity or the participant.

The risk of injury to zip line riders is high, which is why the ACCT and ASTM are currently developing commercial zip line safety standards. Only Colorado, Massachusetts, Michigan, New Hampshire, New York, Pennsylvania, Texas and West Virginia currently have zip line regulations.

A common injury suffered by zip liners is bone fractures, which are usually caused by participants falling from the access platform or slamming into the end station. However, much more severe injuries can and do occur. The best protection is in proper management by owners/operators:

• Design and construction: The zip line supports should be set in concrete for optimal bracing. The cable arc’s lowest point should be high enough to prevent riders from crashing into the final post. Rollers guards should be installed to prevent hand injuries. The starting platform should be protected and customers tethered while on the platform.


• Maintenance: Regular inspections should be conducted and documented. Daily inspections should made of all starting platforms, riding seats/handles and safety harnesses. Cable tension should be monitored and adjusted as needed.  Harness and brake padding should not show signs of wear and tear. Cables should be replaced per the manufacturer’s recommendations.


• Supervision: Participants should take a trainer-led safety course prior to take-off and be monitored by trained staff at all times. An employee should be present at both ends of the course. Zip line guides and operators should be fully trained to screen clients, fit and inspect equipment, inspect and maintain the course,and  rescue clients and evacuate the course. Zip line employees should  also be CPR certified and trained in first aid. Minimum age and size requirements should be posted and no one not meeting the posted limits should be permitted to ride.

If you have questions or would like information on insuring your zip line, call Sadler Sports and Recreation Insurance at (800) 622-7370.

---

Source: Lothian Law, 27 May 2014

 

Read Full Story: http://www.sadlersports.com/blog/zip-line-safety/

Fitness Training on Public Property

Source: sadlersports.com - Fitness Training on Public Property
Author: John M. Sadler

L.A. cracking down on trainers without permits

The city of Los Angeles is proposing an ordinance that would require personal trainers using public parks and beaches to obtain permits. The law would also pertain to others who offer goods and services such as food vendors. Santa Monica passed a law that not only requires fitness trainers to have a permit, but carry insurance and pay a fee to use public space. L.A. is considering taking similar steps in addition to the permit.

Complaints from citizens about crowded parks and noise from large boot-camp style classes are one reason the cities are acting. Another is the potential for injury to participants, and the possibility of the city being liable. There’s also the fact that the trainers are making lots of money running their businesses on public property for free. And when they advertise, many of them include the park name, as if it’s a legitimate site for them to do business, said Kevin Regan, of L.A.’s Department of Recreation and Parks.

The city wants fitness instructors to follow the proper channels of operating legitimate businesses, which includes obtaining a city permit and insurance. City officials and many trainers think the new law will weed out those trainers who aren’t certified trainers or trainers who don’t even have a business license.

We invite you to read our other helpful articles on risk management for personal trainers.

---

Source: Leslie Berestein Rojas, “City to fitness instructors who use LA parks: Get a permit.” scpr.org. 24 June 2015

Read Full Story: http://www.sadlersports.com/blog/fitness-training-on-public-property/