by contributor Donna Shor
Photo credit: Neshan H. Naltchayan
People with a purpose came together at The City Club of Washington to kick start a vital law that has been stymied for lack of funds. Meanwhile, without the legally mandated training the law provides which includes quick recognition of a sports-related concussions and prompt treatment, young area athletes–girls as well as boys–face life-altering disabilities and even death. Your children or your young sibs are at risk.
Christine Warnke, James Bubar and Demetria Johnson
D.C. Law 19-22, the Athletic Concussion Protection Act, became effective October 20, 2011 and required the Mayor to create a training program and educational materials aimed at reducing damage from concussions. It has not been possible to implement that law, despite increasing media coverage of the dangers of sports-related concussions.
Addressing the problem are Tom Bannwart, City Club general manager and Christine Warneke of Hogan and Lovells, who co-hosted “Innovations in Youth Athletics,” a reception at the downtown club. Joy Taylor, Executive Vice President of the Capital Athletics Association brought together interested groups and individuals to further the cause.
Dr. Mark Lester, Joy Taylor, Roger A. Mitchell, Jr and James Bubar
Speakers were presented at the nearby Hogan and Lovells Conference Center in the building. Dr. Shireen Atabaki, Professor at George Washington University, Emergency Medicine specialist and Director of Medical Student Education at Children’s Hospital led off.
She spoke of Children’s Hospital’s H.I.T.S. for Kids, acronym of Health Information Technology Solutions. Conceived as pilot for a national model, H.I.T.S. important plans include a CPR, First Aid and Concussion Training Curricula update and the founding of a badly-needed follow-up program for concussion victims.
Naz Atabaki, Pierre Chatain, Dr. Shireen Atabaki, Valerie Chatain and Dr. Mark Lester
H.I.T.S. estimates the side benefits of these undertakings would also yield a $5M annual cost savings in the reduction of CT scans, school days missed, and return visits to emergency rooms, not counting the benefits of better treatment procedures and significantly less radiation exposure for the youths.
The cost to implement H.I.T.S has been estimated at $480,000. D.C. Council Chairman Phil Mendelson and Yvette M. Alexander, Chairperson of the Committee on Committee have requested in October, 2013 that the Department of Health examine the H.I.T.S. program and fund it, to comply with D.C. Law-19-22, but that has not yet occurred.
Robert Kyle of Hogan Lovells and Dr. Shireen Atabaki
Listening from San Francisco and speaking to D.C. listeners by live video, Donald Collins, Athletic Commissioner for the San Francisco Unified School District explained that with the 2004 passage of Proposition H in that city, the Public Education Fund (PEEP)was secured in 2004. PEEP’s initiative Sports, Libraries, Arts and Music (SLAM) had a $10M starting fund, which included support of youth athletics in San Francisco. The Stadium Admission Tax invented by the owners of the SF 49ers and SF Giants contributed. On January 28, 2014, the SF Board of Education approved $50M for 2014 expenditures, growing from $10M to $50M in ten years, despite the recession. San Francisco is nationally recognized for its after-school programs, and proves that these youth programs are a sound investment.
Valerie, Victor and Pierre Chatain
Karl Heimbach, President of the Maryland State Athletic Directors Association (MSADA) is on board to create a special membership for the District of Columbia Athletic Directors Association until it can establish itself as a state chapter of the National Interscholastic Athletic Directors. Using the best practices of each of the 50 states, the goal is to construct a world class youth athletics program in the Nation’s Capital.
He stressed that athletics is a proven pathway to higher education and workforce development, especially for urban youth. Unfortunately, D.C. has one of the lowest athletics department budgets in the nation, lacking administrative support or booster clubs. Most damaging is D.C.’s current legislation, which prevents fundraising and beneficial financial actions, including in kind-sponsorships on all government property.
Karl Heimbach and Paul Albrecht of Marlow Sports
He emphasized the importance of athletic directors being certified in a multi-step course that would enable prompt on-the-field diagnosis of possible concussion injuries, saying that a severe blow to the head does not always knock out a player, and recognition of the other tell-tales signs must be understood.
He has insisted that all Maryland’s athletic directors be certified, one of whom, Kevin Grimslang of Roosevelt High School spoke briefly. Charles Young, Business Manager and Track Coach of Dunbar High was also in attendance.
Robert Kyle of Hogan Lovells and Dr. Shireen Atabaki
Heimbach is spearheading the effort to obtain $8M (5%) of the $160 Million in additional funding allocated for Education in the Mayor’s 2014-2915 budget. “This 5% would be divided equally between the Athletic Directors at each D.C. Charter and Public School, and Public Middle plus High Schools to give all kids a better chance to level the playing field to success through athletics.”
