Dr. Benet Omalu testifies to promote safe youth sports
(SACRAMENTO, CA)- The Assembly Committee on Arts, Entertainment, Sports, Tourism and Internet Media passed Assembly Bill (AB) 2007 (McCarty, D-Sacramento) today, on a vote of 5 to 0. The Concussion Management Youth Sports Act would help protect youth sports participants from injury by requiring the same protocol to be observed as those in place for high school athletes.
“Sports are embedded in our culture and we must ensure that our youth athletes, coaches, and parents are aware of the severity of a concussion,” said Assemblymember McCarty. “This legislation will guarantee that all participants involved in youth sports are aware of the signs and symptoms of a concussion, and take appropriate steps to prevent serious injury.”
“This bill marks an important step forward in closing loopholes in concussion management at the youth sports level,” said Mike Chisar, governmental affairs committee chair for the California Athletics Trainers’ Association. “It’s in line with CATA’s ongoing efforts to protect all athletes and physically active individuals. We’re proud to be the sponsor of this legislation.”
Dr. Benet Omalu, who testified in support of the bill, expressed his concerns regarding the lack of information that football players receive, “even today you talk to some players who were not told either by fault or default that while you play football, your brain suffers repeated blows, impacts, and such repeated impacts have a risk of permanent brain damage with or without the helmet.”
Dr. Omalu continued, “knowledge is power,” and with this legislation coaches, parents and athletes will receive information to recognize and treat a concussion.
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