Unanchored Portable Soccer Goal Causes Fatality

Third-grader, Juan Escalera, 9 dies after soccer goal falls on him causing brain trauma.  It is unclear as to what caused the goal to fall while Juan and his cousins were playing soccer after church in Sampson County, NC. 

There have been 36 deaths in the U.S. since 1979 from portable soccer goals falling.  Goals should be held down with stakes or sand bags as they can weigh up to 500lbs. 

Click here to see our prior blog and video on this topic “Video Explains Soccer Goal Tip Over Hazards”

Source: WRAL Local News

PA School District Sued By Ex-Football Player Over Concussions

A Pennsylvania school district is being sued by a former student who received three concussions in games during the 2007 football season. Zachary Alt, 19, has to deal with symptoms, including memory problems and nausea, stemming from brain injuries after being told by the coaching staff to continue in games without being properly diagnosed. He was never removed from the games, but after the last concussion, he was diagnosed with a traumatic brain injury at a hospital.

Source: Insurance Journal, April 4, 2011.

Oversized Baseball Helmets Being Used In Minor Leagues

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

Thousands Injured In Gyms And At Home In Pursuit Of Fitness

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/

ASMI Releases Position On Safety For Youth Baseball Pitchers

The American Sports Medicine Institute has released its position statement on best practices for youth pitchers in avoiding injuries.

 Of particular interest is the statement that throwing curve balls is not a risk factor in youth shoulder and elbow injuries but……. this does not mean that youth pitchers don’t need to take precautions before doing so.

 The position statement addresses how to avoid overuse, mandatory 4 month rest periods, and pitch counts.

www.asmi.org/asmiweb/position_statement.htm

 Source: ASMI