August 29, 2013

Traumatic brain injuries (TBI) are one of the most common risks young athletes face on the field today. The Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) says that each year, emergency departments in the United States treat more than 173,000 sports-related TBIs and concussions.

The North Carolina Brain Injury Lawyers with HensonFuerst Injury Lawyers point out how these staggeringly high numbers have prompted action be taken to better protect young athletes from these risks. In May of 2010, the CDC and the National Federation of State High School Associations launched an online course aimed at raising awareness of the risks of TBIs and the signs that a player may have suffered such an injury.

According to an article from High School OT, the one millionth participant recently took the course. The program is free to participate in and has recently been upgraded to improve user experience.

Several school districts in North Carolina have also implemented policies that require coaches pull an athlete from play if they are suspected to have suffered a TBI. The athlete cannot return until a trained physician has cleared them.

New technology has also hit the market that can indicate when a player may have suffered a TBI.

HensonFuerst’s team of North Carolina Personal Injury Lawyers applauds the efforts being made to protect young athletes from concussions and TBIs. The firm hopes the efforts are effective in reducing the number of injuries recorded each year.