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Parents, Students and Coaches asked to Be Prepared for Fall Sports Seasons

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Monday, August 15th, marks the official start of PIAA practices for fall sports, and youth teams  will soon be getting into full swing. The American Academy of Pediatrics, the CDC, Safe Kids USA and Johnson & Johnson are all encouraging parents and coaches to protect young athletes, especially on hot, steamy practice days.   

 Meri-K Appy, president of Safe Kids USA, says  that means having adequate training, hydration, and taking breaks. She says kids need to be drinking enough water even before they get on the field.

Appy says preparation includes having a pre-participation physical, warming up before practice and having the proper equipment for the sport.  

Appy adds the whole culture needs to shift, so that we’re aware of the things that could go wrong; we can recognize, for example, the symptoms of a concussion. She says we all need to be speaking up, and kids themselves must learn to advocate for themselves. She says if young athletes don’t feel right, they should be able to say they need a time out, and the adults around them need to let them make that choice.

Appy says about 3.5 million children under age 15 are treated for sports injuries each year.  She says at least half of these injuries are preventable.

Appy says while more attention needs to be paid to serious injuries such as concussions and the risk of heat related illness, parents and coaches can’t forget overuse and other injuries such as muscle strains and tears and bone or growth-plate injuries. She says we have to help our kids make wise decisions.

Safe Kids USA, with Johnson & Johnson, is holding free clinics around the country.   The CDC has a web-based course on recognizing heat-related illness, as well as a tool kit on line.  At least four teen athletes have died in other parts of the country this summer due to extreme heat during practice.  

Colon Cancer Rates in United States Fall as Screenings Rise

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Prevention efforts are having an impact on the second most deadly cancer in the United States. The Centers for Disease Control and Prevention says colon cancer deaths are down and more progress is possible.   

CDC Director Dr. Thomas Frieden says colon cancer rates have decreased by more than 10% over the past five years.  The Vital Signs report, which looked specifically at the rate of deaths between 2003 and 2007, shows a more than 2% drop nationally.

Between 2002 and 2010, the rate of screenings increased by 13%. But the report says 1 in 3 people between the ages of 50 and 75 are still not up to date with the recommended screening. Dr. Frieden says as more doctors are clearer with their patients about the importance of screening , that will make a big impact on patients.  He says the strongest risk factor for not being screened, is not being told to be screened by your doctor.

Dr. Frieden says you should be screened if you are between the ages of 50 or 75, or if you have a strong family history of the disease.   Screenings include annual fecal occult blood tests done at home, a flexible sigmoidoscopy done every five years,  or a colonoscopy done every 10 years.

Dr. Frieden says he has a strong family history of colorectal cancer  and was first screened with a colonoscopy at age 40. He says his first screening was normal, but during the next screening at age 50, four polyps were found.  All were removed before they became cancerous.

Dr. Frieden says colon cancer screening can save your life, and more and more Americans are taking advantage  of the screening.

The full report is available at http://www.cdc.gov/vitalsigns/