Health Archives - Sadler Sports & Recreation Insurance

Archive for the ‘Health’ Category

COVID-19 and Return-to-Play Webinar

Sadler Sports Insurance and Go4Ellis Webinar Recording

Sadler Sports Insurance partnered with Go4Ellis (on demand per diem access to athletic trainers) to produce a fantastic webinar on COVID-19 and return to sports. It was very well received by the live audience. Many of the participants said they received real value for the first time in the form of an actionable return to sports plan.

In the webinar, John Sadler covers the major COVID-19 issues to be considered:

Liability risk for transmission
Difficulty in proving a case
Legal defenses that are available
COVID-19 waiver/release
COVID-19 warning signage
Will General Liability cover a transmission lawsuit?

Ellis Mair, the chief medical officer for Go4Ellis, presented the role that an athletic trainer can provide as you factor the COVID-19 risks into planning and implementation of your events. Athletic trainers are not only experts in sports injuries, but also in dealing with diseases such as COVID-19. Their ability to be your COVID Coordinator in executing the safest events possible could be immeasurable.

Below is the Zoom meeting link to the the previously-recorded webinar:

https://us02web.zoom.us/rec/share/4cFRLIPRx15OGJX_9m_gV5J5Fau8eaa80CIc_vUKyR5Rnkkg0NT1o4R624XHsR_m

Outline of Topics Covered

COVID-19 Risk Assessment

Panelists

Objectives

Follow the Lead of Authority Sources

Risk Identification Checklist

Sport
Age Group
Event Type
Expected Attendance
Location
Local or Interstate

Insurance and Liability

Legal Theories of Recovery for COVID-19 Transmission
Elements Of COVID-19 Negligence Claim
Legal Risk Compared with Child Abuse or Concussions
Does General Liability Cover COVID-19 Transmission Lawsuits?
COVID-19 Waiver/Release
COVID-19 Warning Signage
Other Legal Defenses
Homeowners Liability and Personal Umbrella

How Hiring an Athletic Trainer helps Sports Organizations Execute Mitigation Strategies and Support Event Operators

COVID Coordinator
Pre-event Communication
PPE
Temperature Screening
Monitoring
State / Local Compliance Documentation
Participant Evaluation And Response

Q&A

Crossing the Foul Line

HIV-positive player kicked out of rec basketball league

A 21-year-old player on a Kissammee Parks and Recreations basketball team was told he could not participate in the league. A part-time recreation leader confronted Dakota Basinger mid-game, asking if he was HIV-positive. When Basinger replied that he is, the employee then told him he was not permitted to continue the game or play in the league.

A spokesperson for the city’s Parks and recreation department stated that the worker had specifically been told not to approach Basinger and did so without supervisor approval.

Should players with HIV / AIDS be allowed to participate in youth sports leagues? Find out in our article Read our article HIV in Youth Sports.

Skip practice and the books following a concussion (Infographic)

Concussion recovery: rest, rest, and more rest

Recent concussions treatment research reveals that taking a break from the classroom is as important as taking time off the field while recuperating from head injuries. Doctors had long suspected this and advised their patients accordingly, and now research backs up their advice.

Researchers found that concussion patients who took a brief period of complete rest shortened their recovery time. The study included 335 patients ranging in age from 8 to 23. These are significant findings for treating head injuries in children. Youth are the segment of the population most at-risk for long term damage because of their still-developing brains.

[sc:InfoGraphic imagealt=”Infographic Concussion Warning Signs” imageurl=”https://www.sadlersports.com/wp-content/uploads/2014/05/Concussion-Risk-Management.jpg” imagewidth=”600″ imageheight=”1414″ permalink=”https://www.sadlersports.com/blog/child-concussion-means-rest-books-game/” infographictitle=”Consussion Warning Signs”]

Recent research study and findings

The study found that half of kids who did not take complete rest immediately following their injury took 100 or more days to fully recuperate. Nearly all who took the time to rest fully before slowly returning to daily activities recuperated in less than 100 days, some as quickly as two months. Evidence also indicates that the reduction of mind activity after a concussion lessens the symptoms associated with head injuries.

The severity of the symptoms determines how much time each child needs to rest the brain.Three to five days is usually sufficient, according to study co-author William Meehan of the Sports Concussion Clinic at Boston Children’s Hospital. “Then you can gradually reintroduce them to cognitive activity. They should do as much as they can without exacerbating their symptoms,” said Meehan.

What’s involved in the healing process

A jolt to the head can result in what’s tantamount to a mini seizure. The brain cells fire up all at once, depleting their fuel. To recover, the brain shuts down as it begins the process of restoring the cells. That recovery time is prolonged when brain activity is resumed too early.

“[I]t can take days to weeks for processes in the brain to mop up the mess from a concussion,” said Douglas Smith of the Center for Brain Injury and Repair at the University of Pennsylvania Medical Center.

Taking it slow

The litmus test for returning to activities is being able to do whatever doesn’t aggravate the symptoms. Start with 15 minutes of reading or computer time. But if a headache or other symptoms start up, it’s time to take a break and rest. Increase activity time as the child is able without triggering symptoms or pain.

For more information and to find out more about concussion risk management you can check out our concussion resources.

Source: Linda Carroll, “Skip the Homework,” nbcnews.com, 06 Jan. 2014.

Legionnaires’ Disease and Health Clubs

Steps to preventing Legionnaires also reduce liability risks

The Centers for Disease Control estimates that 8,000 to 18,000 Americans are hospitalized each year after contracting Legionnaires’ disease. Legionnaires’ is a bacterium that thrives in water that is stagnant, unsterilized and warm. An individual can only contract the disease by breathing in vapors that carry the bacteria. It cannot be transmitted from person to person. Health club owners can decrease the risk of infecting their patrons by conducting regular water system maintenance.

A Memphis 24 Hour Fitness is currently embroiled in a $2 million lawsuit filed by Jerome Walsh after he contracted Legionnaires’ disease at the facility. He is one of three people hospitalized between May 21 and June 21, 2103.

The 24 Hour Fitness USA facility was regularly cleaned and maintained to industry standards, according to spokeswoman Robin Rootenberg. She also stated that the chemicals used for cleaning are industrial grade. A third party has been brought in to conduct testing on the infected area, which currently remains closed. The company is engaged in environmental remediation with a firm approved by the health department.

Health Club and Fitness Club Insurance

Proper insurance is critical to protecting your health and fitness club in the event of devastating claims, which can involve multiple individuals alleging extreme damages. However, many General Liability policies for health clubs include two exclusions which most eliminate coverage.

Pollution Exclusion: All General Liability policies include the standard Pollution Exclusion. A pollutant is defined as an irritant or contaminate in any form (solid, liquid, or gaseous). So far most courts are reluctant to deny coverage for Legionnaires’ lawsuits when carriers invoke this exclusion as they don’t consider the bacterium to be a pollutant.

Fungi or Bacteria Exclusion: Many General Liability policies include an endorsement that excludes fungi or bacteria that are present within a building or structure with the exception of those that are contained in a product intended for bodily consumption. Since Legionnaires’ disease is a bacterium, this exclusion could be invoked by the insurance carrier to deny coverage. However, some courts have upheld coverage depending on the exact location in the facility where the disease was contracted.

Ensure that your health club stays protected by adhering to all environmental and industry guidelines for the cleaning and maintenance of for your water systems, including Jacuzzis, saunas, and pools.

Visit our Health Club General Liability Insurance page to get a quick quote. We don’t require you to join an association to qualify for this coverage.

Source: Tennessee Health Club Sued Over Legionnaires’ Disease

Dieting for Overweight Youth Football Players

It’s a family effort

Dr. Dennis Buckley has produced a short video advising parents of overweight youth football players on helping their children lose weight the safe way. Dr. Buckley performs many preseason physicals on youth tackle football players in Orange County, California and has noticed that many are over the weight category for the division in which they want to play. Dr. Buckley points out that quick weight loss is unhealthy and that a healthy diet must be approached on a family-wide basis to be successful in most cases.

Recertification and Reconditioning of Sports Equipment

A page on Riddell‘s website discusses their strict standards in the reconditioning and recertification process for sports uniforms and equipment. This reconditioning process fights bacteria, viruses and mold, which reduces health risks. Once the process is completed, a final inspection is made to recertify the equipment and uniforms according to the original manufacturing condition. Watch the video below to learn more about the benefits of reconditioning and recertification.

Source: Riddell

HIV/AIDS in Youth Sports Leagues

Policy-making on infected youth athletes

Should players with HIV/AIDS be allowed to participate in youth sports leagues? We have seen an increased number of phone calls requesting direction as to whether or not teams and leagues should allow players that are infected HIV/AIDS to participate. Although this is a controversial subject, we hope you find our article, HIV In Youth Sports, both useful and informative.

Head Injuries and Concussions in Youth Sports

Reducing the chances of inherent sports risks

All sports carry some type of inherent risk, but what are they? For contact sports, a very common occurrence is the concussion (defined by Websters as “a stunning, damaging, or shattering effect from a hard impact; a jarring injury of the brain resulting in disturbance of cerebral function.”) According to the CNN report below, there is increasing evidence that brain damage actually occurs during a concussion.

What are some ways that your local organization is being pro-active in preventing head injuries or putting measures into place to nurture the injury or prevent further injury once it has occurred?

Commotio Cordis in Youth Baseball

The AED, chest protectors and safety ball factors

Following is a summary of an excerpt from the USA Baseball Medical And Safety Committee’s report on Commotio Cordis in Baseball:

Commotio cordis or cardiac concussion can cause sudden death in young baseball players. It is the result of a low velocity impact to the chest from a thrown or batted ball, usually traveling at a speed of between 20 and 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 such a catastrophic event to occur, the impact has to be precisely timed to strike the heart during a 15 to 30-millisecond phase of the electrical cycle.

There is a 90 percent death rate among those suffering commotio cordis. The lack of response to CPR efforts by healthy young baseball players is unexpected and remains unexplained. However, it is clear that a rapid response time – three to five minutes – is critical.

Batters should learn ball avoidance and turn away from an inside pitch and not open the 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 demonstrated to prevent commotio cordis. Studies with baseballs seem to indicate that lighter and softer balls may diminish the risk, but their acceptability for play by older children is of question.

In my opinion…

Studies indicate that the chances of surviving an incident of commotio cordis is enhanced if a shock from an automated external defibrilator (AED) can be delivered promptly. Most ball parks don’t have AEDs and those that do must have well-practiced procedures in place for the rapid use of the device. Otherwise all is 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 high-profile lawsuit in New Jersey of a pitcher being stuck by a batted ball that came off of an alleged “hot bat” involved commotio cordis resulting in a permanent disability to the pitcher. The metal bat manufacturer and others were sued. What is interesting to note is that commotio cordis usually occurs only when a projectile travels at a relatively slow speed, usually between 20 to50 mph. In this case the basis for the lawsuit was that the ball speed was too fast as a result of the alleged “hot bat”.

– John Sadler

Pitching Injuries in Youth Baseball

Pitch counts and prevention

Baseball is among the safer sports for today’s youth. However, many of the serious injuries adult baseball pitchers suffer may have begun to develop in their youth. One of the missions of the USA Baseball Medical & Safety Advisory Committee is to provide scientifically-based information to its youth baseball members in an effort to reduce injury risks and maximize the younger player’s ability to perform and advance to higher levels.

The following recommendations were made for pitch counts, pitch types, pitching mechanics and physical conditioning, multiple appearances, showcases, multiple leagues, year round baseball.

Pitch Counts: Youth baseball should incorporate the practice of pitch counts like high school, college and pro baseball. The primary factors in predicting arm injuries from pitching are the total number of pitches thrown per game, week, season, and year.

Age specific pitch count recommendations:

9-10 year old pitchers:
50 pitches per game
75 pitches per week
1000 pitches per season
2000 pitches per year

11-12 year old pitchers:
75 pitches per game
100 pitches per week
1000 pitches per season
3000 pitches per year

13-14 year old pitchers:
75 pitches per game
125 pitches per week
1000 pitches per season
3000 pitches per year

Pitch Types: Previous studies have shown that breaking pitches such as curve balls and sliders place more stress on elbows and shoulders than fast balls. As a result, it is recommended that youth pitchers should avoid throwing these types of pitches.

Pitching Mechanics: Lab studies show that good pitchers at all levels use about the same mechanics and as a result proper instruction should be given to youth pitchers at an early age to avoid undue stress levels on elbows and shoulders.

Multiple Appearances: The practice of allowing a youth pitcher to return to the mound after having been removed earlier in a game is frowned upon.

Showcases, Multiple Leagues, Year Round Baseball: All of these participation opportunities are likely to result in throwing too many balls and the related overuse injuries to shoulders and elbows.

In my opinion…

I served on the USA Baseball Medical And Safety Committee with Tommy John, I overheard him say that most kids today know his name from the so-called Tommy John elbow surgical procedure than from his days as an all-star pitcher in the major leagues. It’s sad to see the explosion of these surgeries in youth baseball and to learn that many youth actually want this surgery, mistakenly believing that they will somehow be made stronger then before. At the same time, I know that the media generated by the USA Baseball study on pitch counts is having a positive impact. My son plays in a youth league and I actually see coaches voluntarily starting to use pitch counts even though they are not mandated by the league. – John Sadler

See the Youth Baseball Pitching Injuries report by the USA Baseball Medical and Safety Committee