FOOTBALL SAFETY CUPERTINO

Damar Hamlin’s recent football accident has led to concerns about the injury prevention and recovery protocols at Cupertino High School’s sports programs.

Hamlin, Buffalo Bills’ safety, suffered a cardiac arrest on Jan. 2, 2023, after tackling Cincinnati Bengals’ wide receiver Tee Higgins. Hamlin collapsed from cardiac arrest, reportedly from commotio cordis — cardiac arrest due to a severe blow to the chest.

CHS head football coach, Chris Oswald, has ensured that the team’s health and safety are a priority during training.

“When I got here 13 years ago, we got this athletic weight training class going and said, ‘let’s make them the strongest we can make them,’” Oswald said. “Our fundraising efforts

Coaches at CHS are certified in coaching safer tackling techniques that reduce helmet-to-helmet contact by teaching players to lead with their shoulders, as is common in Rugby.

The Prospector spoke with Dr. Andy Ashbaugh, a sports medicine physician at Valley Medical Center, on the possible repercussions few years, it appears that the number of concussions reported from sports has risen, there is no exact reason for this. Ashbaugh said it’s not the number of concussions occurring that has increased, but rather a more comprehensive education towards the signs of concussions that has created more coach awareness. Growing numbers of concussions can also be due to being much more precautions when someone gets hit in the head. of concussions, a common sports injury. He emphasized conditions for those with and especially multiple concussions, ranging from an increased risk of depression to cognitive impairments. Impairments range in severity, sometimes leading to chronic traumatic encephalopathy — a degenerative brain condition caused by severe head

Even though proper training and equipment are important when it comes to preventing concussions, what is most important is adequate recovery.

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“You’re trying not to stress out the brain or [put] yourself in any position to get a repeat concussion,” Ashbaugh said. Post-concussion, athletes are required to complete 72 hours of rest and cardio exercises which hastens the recovery process by increasing blood flow to the brain. The CHS sports teams follow these strict protocols, pass proper symptom tests and check in with a doctor.

The threat of injuries in football may frighten some. Still, athletes are safer than ever due to a combination of new safety protocols, smarter tackling techniques, better equipment and coaches trained to prevent and recognize head injuries.

“Sometimes it’s an assumed risk,” Oswald said. You’re putting on an eight-pound helmet and running into people at full speed. [So] we continue to educate ourselves”