As were settling in this is unintended [inaudible] part of our hearing today where were dealing with neuroscience b and medical research and physics. Well, physics when dr. Gay gets arrives. So panel two, i will introduce you from mr. Cleland on down. Mr. Cleland is the assistant director, division of advertising practices at the federal trade commission. We have ian heaten, Student Ambassador for the National Council on youth sports safety. And if i might editorialize, i think jan did a great job of juxtaposing a face of tbi and concussions on each panel. And each, as a High School Lacrosse player, is that face for the more scientificbased panel. So thank you, ian, for taking your day away from school. I know how tough it is to be pulled out of school and come testify before congress. Just like a normal high school student. [laughter] then dr. Robert graham, chair committee on sportsrelated concussion in youth at the institutes of medicine. Dennis molfese, ph. D. Director center for b
United states roughly about 75 of traumatic brain injuries. It is a brain injury. There is damage to the brain. Theres a discussion about whether its permanent or temporary. In the military the rate is 77 . So it turns out that youth sports are a good model for also looking at concussion in terms of the military. In fact, most of the military concussions occur in situations most like they do with the rest of america. Some certainly occur in theater, but the majority occur outside of theater, in accidents like youth are prone to experience. If we look at brain injuries overall, there are estimates these are all estimates, of course, and they vary across the literature. Were looking at somewhere probably in the neighborhood of 4 million traumatic brain injuries per year in the United States. A sobering part of that is our birth rate in the United States is also roughly about 4 million. This does not count other ways that children are exposed to head injuries. Perhaps a disciplining irate
And how best to go about changing our game to reflect that. So thats how we ended up adding creating a unified concussion protocol and returntoplay protocol for our sideline. Thats how we ended up with additional concussion experts on the sideline. This is based on the advice of outsiders who tell us this is the best way to handle your players, this is the best way to treat the game, and if you want a culture of safety, this is what you would do. We followed their advice strictly and meet with them very frequently. I noticed your title is Senior Vice President of health and safety policy. Is that position thats got to be a position that didnt exist 20 years ago. It did not exist 20 years ago. Im proud to be in that role. Its an exciting one. I know this hearing is on concussions, but since youre here, i got to ask you one other question that may be a little different topic. Over the last few years, ive communicated with the nfl about my concerns about the issue of Human Growth Hormone
Coaches and parents and kids and officials and everybody to get on the same page to help kids. If youre an administrator in a high school, your being asked a question on how youre making this favor for my kids, and we can answer that now. Thank you. We appreciate you being here, your it recognized for five minutes. Thank you very much. I am 42 years old. I served as a starting goalkeeper for the United States Womens National soccer team for the years of 1994 to 2008. During that time i helped to lead the team and winning to 11 old metals, in 1996 atlanta games and 2004 athens games, and late 173 International Games over 15 years for the United States. That is a record among female goalkeepers. In the summer of 1999, my 20 amazing teammates and i captured the hearts of america by beating china in a healthy kick shootout alive in front of 90,000 screaming fans at the rose bowl in pasadena, california. I was the one that made the single safe save before she took off her shirt. I will that
More stringent requirements regarding when a player with concussion can return to the game need to be implemented. These are my thoughts for your consideration. Thank you for your attention and valuable time. Thank you for your valuable time. You are recognized for five minutes. Thank you. The opportunity to speak on behalf of the safety of our children in this country. I am a pediatric neuropsychologist at Childrens National Health System in washington, d. C. , and the director of the Concussion Program. I would like to take my time to focus my comments on the importance of Public Health education for youth concussion using my expertise as a clinician and researcher. I have worked for the last decade with the cdc on their heads up Concussion Program materials. Ianll know, and i think said it perfectly, the sports and recreation provide important developmental opportunities to enrich the lives of our youth. They teach life lessons. We have to balance those incredible benefits with care