High School Trauma

Concussions have been a problem occurring in contact sports for a while now. Not only are concussions happening in professional sports and even college sports, but they are also happening on a lower level; the high school level. There have been a number of incidents that have occurred in the recent months that has brought more attention this injury and the effects they have had to the person that undertook this injury. The person that calls out to most people is former football player Dave Duerson. He was a former player of the NFL that played for the Chicago Bears championship team in 1985 that committed suicide because of implications caused from the concussions he suffered while playing football. The death of Duerson has lead a school in Springfield, IL to adopt some new rules and legislation to deal with this crisis of concussions, dementia, and depression that have been linked to contact sports. The schools "Legislation approved unanimously Wednesday the House Education Committee would order school districts to require a doctor's written permission before a player who might have received a concussion could resume playing. The measure now goes to the full House." This move is one being made by this committee to help prevent this sort of thing from happening as a result of the concern going along with the long term health risks of concussions. "New research indicates concussions and repeated blows to the head may lead to depression, dementia and other mental health problems later in life. This damage can begin at a young age, many times through contact sports such as football or hockey." New rules are being implemented to prevent this sort of thing from happening. Like this school in Springfield, the NFL is trying to do similar things to try and mediate this problem. Not only is this school using new equipment and using these rules to protect players, but they are also "The Illinois bill also requires school districts to adopt concussion awareness and treatment policies and provide information to students and their families." This committee is going above and beyond in regards to looking out for the safety of their players and in their futures. They are thinking about what they can do to protect these young kids.