The D.C. Council is trying to regulate what happens on the football field and in hockey rinks in an effort to protect kids’ heads from injury. Council members approved a bill Tuesday that would require young athletes to sit on the sidelines after showing signs of a concussion.
“That’s very important, because what we’re learning is a concussion is a hidden injury that can have life-altering, devastating consequences, and it’s not acceptable to play it through,” said at-large Councilman Phil Mendelson, who co-wrote the bill.
Mendelson said second-impact concussions can cause permanent damage — damage that his bill seeks to prevent.
The rule would prohibit athletes under age 18 who appear to have suffered concussions from returning to the field until a licensed health care provider has given them the OK.
The bill also calls for the Department of Health to educate coaches, parents and athletes about the dangers of concussions. Athletes and parents will be required to sign a statement saying they received information about concussions before the student is allowed to participate in a sport.
The bill must pass a final vote, which could take place two weeks to a month from now, Mendelson said.
Should the bill pass, D.C. will follow several other states in passing legislation designed to prevent youth concussions, including Colorado, Connecticut, Idaho, Maine, New Jersey and Massachusetts. The issue has gained prominence in recent months thanks to the efforts of the NFL and health care organizations.
The issue gained even more traction nationwide after medical examiners confirmed that former Chicago Bears safety Dave Duerson, who died of a self-inflicted gunshot wound to the chest, suffered from a depression-inducing brain disease linked to repeated concussions.
According to the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention, an estimated 135,000 children and adolescents visit U.S. emergency rooms each year for traumatic brain injuries, including concussions. Children and teens are more likely to get a concussion and take longer to recover than adults, the CDC says.
“This is important legislation,” said Ward 5 Councilman Harry Thomas, who helped write the bill. “The issue is prevalent and it needed to be addressed.”
Freeman Klopott contributed to this report.
