Back-to-School: High School Football Head Injuries More Prevalent Than College Injuries: New Study
High school football players are three times more likely than college players to sustain catastrophic brain injuries while playing, according to a study recently published in the American Journal of Sports Medicine. Catastrophic injuries are those that may include brain bleeding and swelling -- injuries that can easily leave a player with permanent brain damage. Among U.S. high school players, seven of these catastrophic events occur annually, according to physicians.
The study also revealed that among players who sustained a catastrophic injury, a high percentage were playing despite exhibiting symptoms from a previous head injury. Researchers warn that after a head injury, a player must be completely removed from a game if he shows any neurological symptoms at all. They also note that kids should be coached to avoid using their heads to tackle -- 81% of the head injuries in the study occurred as a result of head-to-head collisions.
The reduced presence of physicians at high school football games, in comparison to college games, is thought to be partly responsible for the fact that many injured players were inappropriately allowed to continue playing.
For information about your legal rights, please click here or call the law firm of Regan Zambri & Long, PLLC at 202-463-3030.
The study also revealed that among players who sustained a catastrophic injury, a high percentage were playing despite exhibiting symptoms from a previous head injury. Researchers warn that after a head injury, a player must be completely removed from a game if he shows any neurological symptoms at all. They also note that kids should be coached to avoid using their heads to tackle -- 81% of the head injuries in the study occurred as a result of head-to-head collisions.
The reduced presence of physicians at high school football games, in comparison to college games, is thought to be partly responsible for the fact that many injured players were inappropriately allowed to continue playing.
For information about your legal rights, please click here or call the law firm of Regan Zambri & Long, PLLC at 202-463-3030.
