Posted by admin | Posted on 03-06-2010
Category : Baseball, Equipment, Injury
Tags: concussion, injuries, sports equipment
The new helmets are not popular with players, but they can withstand pitches up to 100mph. A must-use equipment in the minors this year, the Rawlings S100 helmet includes an expanded liner made of polypropylene for more protection.
“I don’t even look in the mirror,” said Justin Turner, an infielder for the Norfolk Tides, The Triple-A affiliate of the Baltimore Orioles. “I think they’re ridiculous. I’ve been hit in the face in the College World Series. There’s got to be a way to put more protection in the helmet and not have them look that atrocious,” he said.
“New York Yankees catcher Francisco Cervelli is the only big leaguer wearing one on a regular basis. He’d already sustained a couple of concussion when manger Joe Girardi persuaded Cervelli to pick safety over style. “It’s ugly,” Cervelli said in spring training, adding, “It’s not about how it looks, I’ve got to take care of myself.”
It will be interesting to see how the new helmets are accepted in minor league baseball and their impact on concussions. If favorable, the trend could spread to the major leagues, colleges, and high schools. Its not clear if the pitch speeds in youth baseball justify the extra protection at this point.
Source: Insurance Journal, May 28, 2010
Rawlings S-100
Posted by admin | Posted on 05-02-2010
Category : Equipment, Health Clubs, Injury, Instructors, Personal Trainer, Risk Management
Tags: exercise, fitness, general liability, injuries, Personal Trainers, Risk Management
Fitness Instructor Insurance and Health Club Insurance is in high demand due to frequent gym injuries.
According to the Consumer Product Safety Commission, the following injury statistics occurred in 2009:
* 1500 emergency room visits resulting from equipment related
mishaps in gyms
* 50,000 emergency room visits from home exercise equipment
incidents including treadmill falls, exercise ball falls, elastic stretch
band hits to face, and dropping free weights on feet.
* Treadmills are the number one cause of equipment related injuries
with 575 occurrences of falling off, tripping over, and tripping on.
* Weight machines and free weights caused 224 injuries.
* Common gym equipment related injuries include broken ankles,
fractured arms, fractured legs, and fingertip amputations.
Fitness instructors cite the following reason for gym/exercise related injuries:
* Inattention due to Ipods, cell phones, and reading.
* Using equipment for the first time without proper instruction
* Working out too hard, too soon after a period of inactivity.
Source: http://www.msnbc.msn.com/id/35127528/ns/health-fitness/
Posted by admin-sh | Posted on 16-01-2009
Category : Baseball, Equipment, Health, Risk Management
Tags: avoidance, cardiac arrest, chest, chest protectors, commotio cordis, death rate, electrical cycle, heart, softer balls, sudden death
Commotio cordis or cardiac concussion is a cause of sudden death in young baseball players. It is the result of a low velocity impact to the chest from a thrown or batted ball traveling usually at a speed of between 20-50 mph. The impact must occur directly over the heart, the closer to the center the greater the risk. The cause of death is the development of an abnormal rhythm, ventricular fibrillation, though there may be some affect on the blood circulation to the heart as well. For the catastrophic event to occur, the impact has to be precisely timed to strike the heart during a 15-30-millisecond phase of the electrical cycle (during repolarization or just before the peak of the T-wave).
Commotio cordis is associated with a death rate of 90%. The lack of response of these young health baseball players to CPR is unexpected and remains unexplained, but it is clear that a rapid response is essential. This response is probably required in three-five minutes…….
Batters should learn ball avoidance and turn away from an inside pitch and not open chest to the impact, as is so typically the case. Avoidance while bunting requires special attention. Pitchers as well should be coached in proper fielding positions and ball avoidance when necessary. Chest wall protectors that are commercially available have not been demonstrated to prevent commotio cordis. Studies with baseballs seems to indicate that lighter and softer balls may diminish the risk, but their acceptability for play by older children is of question.
See Report By USA Baseball Medical And Safety Committee on Commotio Cordis in Baseball
In My Opinion: Studies indicate that the chances of survival of a commotio cordis incident is enhanced if a shock from an AED can be delivered promptly. Most ball parks don’t have AED’s and those that do must have well practiced procedures in place for the rapid use of the device or all if for naught. I am often amazed at the marketing efforts by the vendors of chest protectors. It makes sense that they would help but the scientific studies indicate that many don’t offer any protection and may actually be contra indicated. Apparently, most chest protector vendors need to go back to the drawing board with their designs. Also, the recent high profile lawsuit in New Jersey of a pitcher being stuck by a batted ball that came off of an alleged “hot bat” involves commotio cordis and resulting permanent disability to the pitcher. The metal bat manufacturer was sued among others. What is interesting to note is that commotio cordis usually occurs only when a projectile travels at a relatively slow speed between 20-50 mph and in this case the basis for the lawsuit is that the ball speed was too fast as a result of the alleged “hot bat”. John Sadler
“Based on the research performed by USA Baseball and other investigators demonstrating that a reduced impact ball can decrease the incidence and severity of ball impact injuries to less skilled players aged 5-12, the USA Baseball Medical and Safety Advisory Committee recommends: 1. That youth baseball organizations adopt for their Tee-Ball and other “minor league” programs that are focused on skill development, reduced impact baseballs that meet NOCSAE standards levels 1 and 2.
2. This recommendation does not diminish the importance of teaching fundamental baseball skills and ball avoidance skills and techniques for batters.
3. Current scientific literature on the prevention of commotio cordis by chest protectors is not adequate and therefore, the effect of any equipment on the risk of chest impact death remains unsubstantiated at this time.“
See Report from USA Baseball Medical And Safety Committee: Safety Balls
In My Opinion: I know from the ongoing injury study that I perform for my insurance client, Dixie Youth Baseball (ages 12 & under), that three of the leading causes of injury are being struck by batted balls, thrown balls, and pitched balls. The vast majority of injuries that occur in T Ball and Coach Pitch are from being struck by batted balls and thrown balls. These injuries in the lower age groups are primarily caused by lack of skills. Based on my personal observation in working with youth baseball players ages 5-8, players can better learn skills if some of the fear factor is removed. I would say that softer baseballs definitely remove some of the fear factor which can result in more quality practice sessions in terms of repetitions and the development of skills. As players move out of T Ball and Coach Pitch, the skill levels are usually such that the types of injuries that could theoretically be prevented or reduced by reduced impact balls don’t come into play as often. From an injury analysis point of view, it is almost impossible to predict if a reduced impact ball could have prevented or reduced an Accident insurance claim. It is much easier to predict the outcome of other safety equipment such as batter’s face guards or catcher’s throat protectors as they are almost 99% effective in preventing injury.
Do metal bats pose a significantly greater risk of injury to pitchers and infielders resulting from greater bat exit speeds and associated reduced reaction time? Is there enough scientific evidence to ban metal bats for youth and college baseball in favor of wood bats?
Current scientific studies do not support this conclusion as there is no increase in the trend of significant injuries that would cause the need for the banning of metal bats in favor of wood bats. However, the final results of an important ongoing study on this issue are not yet available.
In My Opinion: Politicians looking for publicity and personal injury attorneys looking for large settlements and jury verdicts say that metal bats should be banned in favor of wood bats based on anecdotal evidence. Instead, we must look to scientific studies for an answer and so far science tells us that there is little existing evidence that would support banning metal bats that are currently approved by the various governing bodies. However, it is possible that new research may result in future recommendations for bat standards that would require certain performace modifications. John Sadler
See USA Baseball Medical and Safety Committee Position Statement On Wood vs. Metal Bat: http://mlb.mlb.com/usa_baseball/article.jsp?story=medsafety10
