Headgear for student athletes

Do your students wear headgear when they participate in sports?

According to a recent Public Health Report survey, many students fail to wear headgear in all sports other than football, which contributes to head and eye injuries and lost teeth.

Many baseball players, for instance, don’t wear headgear, even when they’re at bat, and most baseball related injuries affect the head and face.

The problem is even worse for female athletes, who are much less likely to wear protective headgear than males. Female field hockey players rarely wear headgear, while male players wear it at all levels.

“Sports and recreational injuries are easily prevented,” says the study. Coaches should play a major role by instructing students in the proper fit, use and maintenance of headgear, including helmets, mouth guards and face masks.

Choking

In 2001, 864 children ages 14 and under died from unintentional airway obstruction and over 17,000 were treated in emergency rooms for choking-related incidents. Every five days, a child dies from choking on food.

Children frequently choke on food and gum because of their poor chewing capability and narrow airways. The foods that provide the greatest risk include hot dogs, candies, nuts, grapes, marshmallows and popcorn. Children also choke on coins, which they swallow inadvertently.

Children in school who choke and cannot speak or cough need immediate assistance. Individuals who can perform the Heimlich maneuver can help by:

* standing behind the victim and wrapping their arms around her waist
* placing a fist just above the naval and below the sternum with thumbs facing inward
* grasping the fist with the other hand and giving abdominal thrusts using an in and up motion
* continuing with the thrusts until the object is dislodged
* if the victim becomes unconscious, call for medical help and begin rescue breathing