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NATIONAL ATHLETIC TRAINERS’ ASSOCIATION URGES PARENTS
AND COACHES ALIKE TO TAKE PROACTIVE STEPS TO PROTECT
SCHOOL-AGE ATHLETES AGAINST COMMOTIO CORDIS –
A BLUNT FORCE INJURY TO THE HEART
Leading Health-Care Organization Offers Suggestions on
How to
Keep Young Athletes Safe and Prevent Fatal Accidents
a rare disruption of the heart’s electrical system, Commotio Cordis is caused by a blow
to the chest directly over the heart, which occurs between heart contractions, leading to sudden cardiac arrest. It most often occurs in healthy young
athletes, due to the pliability of their chest walls.
To educate the public about the potential risks young athletes face and what steps can be taken to avoid Commotio Cordis, the National Athletic Trainers’ Association (NATA) has issued an official statement to its 30,000 members. Based on recommendations from its Age-Specific Task Force, the statement offers proactive suggestions to parents and coaches alike on how to protect young athletes who participate in baseball, softball, football, soccer, hockey and lacrosse.
Keith Gorse, MEd, ATC, chair of the NATA’s Age-Specific Task Force, which addresses issues specific to youth and seasoned athletes, has researched this subject for nearly three years. He and his committee recommend doing the following:
§ Encourage all coaches and officials to become trained in cardiopulmonary resuscitation (CPR), automatic external defibrillator (AED) use, and first aid.
§ Establish an emergency action plan at all athletic venues. Parents, coaches, and officials should be involved in these plans. (NATA’s Position Statement on Emergency Planning in Athletics - http://www.nata.org/publicinformation/files/emergencyplanning.pdf - is a useful resource.)
§ Use all-purpose sports chest protectors during practices and games.
§ Ensure all protective equipment fits properly and is used as intended by the manufacturer.
§ Teach athletes how to protect themselves against chest injuries.
§ Maintain an even and clean playing surface.
To learn more about Commotio Cordis, and how to protect children from this type of injury, visit:
www.usabaseball.com
www.medtronic.com
About
the NATA:
Certified athletic trainers (ATCs) are unique health care
providers who specialize in the prevention, assessment, treatment and
rehabilitation of injuries and illnesses that occur to athletes and the
physically active. The National Athletic Trainers' Association represents and
supports the more than 30,000 members of the athletic training profession
through education and research. www.nata.org.
NATA, 2952 Stemmons Freeway,
# # #
You can Download the Commotio Cordis document here.
