Sports Injury Prevention

SPORTS SAFETY EDUCATION FOR REC AND LEAGUE COACHES
"There is not one parent that would drop their child off at a local community pool if there were not a certified lifeguard on duty. That same standard of care should be available at every sports facility in this country," says National Center for Sports Safety Lawrence Lemak, M.D.

Youth athletes, ages 14 and under, are at risk because many coaches are parent volunteers, who have not received adequate sports safety education. If an athlete became very thirsty, mentally confused and nauseated, he/she may have been suffering from a low insulin level which could lead to a diabetic coma, or it could have been a sign of dehydration. Would you or your coaches recognize either of these potentially hazardous conditions?

In the state of Maryland public high school coaches must take a 15 hour course called Care and Prevention of Athletic Injuries (see below), but there no sports safety NO REQUIREMENTS for league and rec coaches! Read the article Most Youth Sports Coaches Don't Have Safety Training.


The P.R.E.P.A.R.E. Course
P.R.E.P.A.R.E. is a comprehensive sports safety course developed by the National Center for Sports Safety (NCSS) in conjunction with the National Athletic Trainers' Association. It is aimed at educating coaches, particularly volunteer moms and dads, on how to prevent common sports injuries, how to recognized symptoms of potentially dangerous conditions, and how to respond in emergency situations.

P.R.E.P.A.R.E. is a three hour class which covers everything from minor injuries, like blisters, nose bleeds and ankle sprains, to life-threatening situations such as head and neck injuries. The course focuses on seven key areas:

• Emergency Planning

• Heat and Cold Illnesses

• Recognition of Emergency Situations

• Medical Considerations

• Principles of First Aid

• Head, Neck and Facial Injuries

• Proper Warm-Up and Cool Down

As an NCSS Sports Safety Affiliate, the Maryland Sports Injury Center has partnered with the NCSS to bring this sports safety course to the coaches and teams in our local community. Coaches who complete this course will receive a Certificate of Completion, a Sports Safety Patch, a 101 page Sports Safety Coach's Manual

Why Should You P.R.E.P.A.R.E.?
The P.R.E.P.A.R.E. course will not only make your athletes safer, it will benefit your organization as a whole. By being proactive and more knowledgeable, your coaches, staff and volunteers will be more equipped to avoid preventable injuries which can reduce risk. In addition, your group's commitment to sports safety education for its coaches will be another way to differentiate your program.

Coaches will gain the confidence to responsibly respond to emergency situations, significantly reduce liability where athletic injuries are concerned, learn valuable information about sports safety and how to reduce risks, and gain knowledge that can be beneficial on and off the playing field.

Next Class: Saturday, June 30, 2007

Location: Montgomery Community College, Rockville Campus

Registration: Call 301-622-9000

Contact us at info@preventsportsinjuries to schedule a class for your organization.