Letter to Barack Obama, President of the United States - Protect Student Athletes from Concussion Risks

Letter

The Honorable Barack Obama
President
1600 Pennsylvania Avenue, NW
Washington, DC 20500

Dear President Obama:

Thank you for your attention to the important issue of safety in youth sports. By hosting the White House Healthy Kids and Safe Sports Concussion Summit, you will help elevate the important national discussion on concussion management and sports safety. In advance of the event, I wanted to ask for your support in promoting a strict "when in doubt, sit it out" policy for our young athletes and urge all participants to do the same.

Last fall, I introduced the Protecting Students from Concussions Act (S. 1546), which would encourage states to develop concussion safety plans for public schools that include a concussion safety awareness component and the adoption of a strict "when in doubt, sit it out" policy. This policy requires a student suspected of sustaining a concussion during a school-sponsored athletic activity to be removed from participation, prohibited from returning to play that day, and evaluated by a health care professional before returning to play in future events. This strict "when in doubt, sit it out" policy is recommended by the American College of Sports Medicine and the American Academy of Neurology.

Youth sports are a great way for students to stay healthy while learning important team-building skills. However, some students stay in the game not recognizing the risks of playing hurt, especially when they've had a concussion. Injuries may be a part of all sports, but as we learn more about the long term effects of concussions and how frequently they are ignored, it is clear we have to step up our game to confront this national health risk.

According to a study by the Institute of Medicine and the National Research Council on concussions in youth sports, young athletes in the United States face a culture of resistance to reporting when they might have a concussion, which could endanger their long term health and well-being. Many athletes also do not know the signs and symptoms of concussion, which may cause many concussions to go undetected. A 2010 Government Accountability Office study found many sports-related concussions go unreported. The risk only increases for athletes who continue to play while concussed. They are at increased risk for catastrophic injury if they sustain another concussion before recovering from the first one. This second injury can cause symptoms that can last for months and can even be fatal.

With risks like these, we can't afford to take any chances. A cautious approach, like the "when in doubt, sit it out" policy is the responsible decision for youth sports leagues, school districts, and even the NCAA to adopt to best protect students and athletes. I applaud the goals of the White House Healthy Kids and Safe Concussion Summit and hope that a strict "when in doubt, sit it out" policy will be promoted to address the dangers of concussions in youth sports.

Sincerely,

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