As High School Student-Athletes Begin Fall Play - Health and Safety Remain Most Important

As High School Student-Athletes Begin Fall Play - Health and Safety Remain
Most Important

Professional athletes, students, coaches and parents discuss importance of
safety awareness

SACRAMENTO, Calif., Sept. 2 /PRNewswire-USNewswire/ -- As high school
student-athletes begin the academic year and participate in double-day sports
practices statewide, the California Interscholastic Federation is drawing
attention to the health risks associated with concussions, heat stroke and
dehydration.

As a result, the CIF is launching an ongoing campaign by distributing a "Ten
Tips "card to help parents easily identify potential life threatening
injuries. The card also suggests precautionary measures that can prevent
thousands of injuries.

Additionally, the CIF will host two town hall meetings -- one in Southern
California and another in Northern California to educate parents statewide.
Professional athletes, students, coaches and teachers will be on site to
present the "Ten Tips" and answer questions.

"Each year, somewhere between 1.6 and 3.8 million sports and recreation
related concussions occur in the United States," said Marie M. Ishida, CIF
State executive director. "Concussions can have serious, long-term health
effects with a variety of symptoms such as headache, nausea, fatigue,
confusion, memory problems and more. We need to raise awareness around the
seriousness of what are often dismissed as minor injuries, which is why we
hope the Ten Tips card and upcoming town hall meetings will be helpful and
informative to our athletes and their families."

A high school student-athlete who sustains a concussion is three times more
likely to sustain another. Moreover, he or she may lack the proper diagnosis
and management of a concussion, which can result in more serious long-term
consequences, or risk of coma or death. These effects are cumulative in
athletes who return to play prior to complete recovery.

"We want to make sure that if someone suspects their child has a concussion,
they know to seek medical attention right away" stated Dr. Tony Strickland of
the Sports Concussion Institute in Los Angeles and a partner in the CIF Town
Hall meetings. "It's equally as important to make sure that the athlete is
fully recovered before they return to play because another blow to the head
before it has completely healed from the first injury can have catastrophic
consequences. "

September is often the hottest time of the year in some California regions.
That's why it is not only important to be aware of the negative effects and
risks associated with concussions, but also with those attached to heat
related illnesses.

"Student-athletes need to know that they should arrive at practice well
hydrated -- which means that parents and guardians need to make sure that
their kids are drinking plenty of water and fluids even before practice ,"
according to Dr. Keith Feder of the West Coast Sports Medicine Foundation
which serves 35 high schools in southern California. "Drinking plenty of
fluids should occur at practice- every ten to fifteen minutes, and also at
home before and after practice. What may seem like just dizziness, drowsiness
or a rapid heart beat could actually be serious heat illness and needs to be
addressed by a medical professional immediately."

Attached is a complete list of the CIF's Ten Tips, along with information
about the town hall meetings designed to educate and inform parents and
students.

Town Hall Information:

Who: Rod Martin, 12 yr. NFL Linebacker w/ Raiders. 2 time Pro-Bowl (Southern
California Town Hall)
Mike Lamb, KHTK radio 1140, former scholarship athlete at USC, Dean's List
and All Pac-Ten Honor Roll (Northern California Town Hall)
Dr. Tony Strickland, from the David Geffen School of Medicine at UCLA and
Director of the Sports Concussion Institute
Dr. Keith Feder,West Coast Sports Medicine
Marie Ishida, Executive Director, State CIF

What: Community and Parent Presentation to Discuss Health and Safety Risks
Associated with Back-to-School Fall Sports

When/Where: Southern California -- Tuesday, September 8th, 7:00 pm
Los Alamitos High School -- Performing Arts Center
3591 Cerritos Ave.
Los Alamitos, CA 90720

Northern California -- Wednesday, September 9(th), 7:00pm
Inderkum High School -- Performing Arts Center
2500 New Market Drive
Sacramento, CA 95835

Why: As students and families enter the 2009-2010 school year, CIF recognizes
the importance of educating team members and their parents about the health
and safety risks associated with fall sports. Information about the signs of,
and how to prevent, concussions, heat stroke and other dangerous sports
related illnesses will be discussed amongst students, teachers, coaches and
professional athletes.

SOURCE California Interscholastic Federation (CIF)

Quwan Spears, +1-916-239-4477, for California Interscholastic Federation
(CIF)