U.S. Rep. Bill Pascrell, Jr. (D-NJ-8), the author of the Concussion Treatment and Care Tool (ConTACT) Act, addressed student-athletes, coaches and athletic trainers at the Super Essex Conference Sportsmanship Summit at Bloomfield High School on Aug. 26, and spoke about protecting student-athletes from the dangers of sports-related concussions.
“According to the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention, as many as 3.8 million concussions related to sports and recreation are estimated to occur each year. And, as many as 41 percent of high chool athletes who have concussions, may be returning to the game too soon,” Pascrell told the group of about 500 participants. “While we at the federal and state level can continue to work to help your coaches and school support you, I hope you will choose to be part of the solution. I know sometimes when you get hurt, the first thing you think about is the team. You want to be tough and stay in the game for your teammates, even though you risk your health in doing so. Well, trust me, in playing baseball in my youth, I know what that was like. No matter how competitive you are, these long-term consequences aren’t worth it.”
In response to the tragic death of Montclair High School’s Ryne Dougherty, Rep. Pascrell, the co-founder and co-chairman of the Congressional Brain Injury Task Force, introduced legislation in the House of Representatives to help schools better protect student-athletes from head injuries. Dougherty died in October 2008 of a brain hemmorage, two days after a blow to the head during a football game.
The ConTACT Act will assist schools to invest in concussion screening technology and adopt better concussion management guidelines.
The ConTACT Act will create a state grant program through the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) that will fund computerized pre-season baseline and post-concussion neurological testing for school-sponsored sports. Schools that enroll students from grades 6 through 12 will be eligible for the funding.
The grant program would be authorized for five years and is estimated to cost $5 million in the first year. It would require a report to Congress within two years of enactment regarding the use and results of screening technology. The legislation will also require the Department of Health and Human Services (HHS) to convene a conference of medical, athletic, and education professionals to establish a set of concussion management guidelines for student-athletes. The legislation was developed by Rep. Pascrell, Rep. Todd Platts (R-PA-19) and the Brain Injury Task Force with consultation from the Brain Injury Association of America, the New Jersey Brain Injury Association, the National Association of State Head Injury Administrators, the Athletic Trainers Society of New Jersey, the International Brain Research Foundation and the New Jersey Office of Disability Services.
Rep. Pascrell advocated for the ConTACT Act as he testified before the House Judiciary Committee’s hearing on sports-related concussions and the National Football League in October 2009.
You need to be a member of Maplewood, NJ & South Orange, NJ - Navigator to add comments!
Join Maplewood, NJ & South Orange, NJ - Navigator