Health & Safety

An estimated 6% of American teenagers (nearly two million) suffer from clinical depression (major depressive disorder or MDD).  Routine, yearly screening on all American teenagers for depression is recommended, even if they don't show symptoms.

A bill requiring all Kentucky high school coaches to complete a 10-hour sports first-aid and sports-safety training course and pass an exam before the 2009-2010 school year was  signed into law on March 24, 2009 by Kentucky governor Steve Beshear.

An athlete not only needs to be physically ready before he returns to the playing field, he also needs to be psychologically ready. If he returns too soon, he risks re-injury, injury to a different part of the body, depression, and decreased performance. A new test helps determine psychological readiness.

An athletic health care team (AHCT) allows a comprehensive approach to sports injuries by middle schools, high schools and community-based sports programs by including medical professionals from many disciplines.

To help middle and high schools and private- and community-based youth sports organizations (YSOs) provide appropriate medical care to secondary-school-aged adolescents in sports, the National Athletic Trainers' Association (NATA) recently issued a Summary Statement calling for schools and YSOs to establish, in consulation with administrators, coaches, parents and athletes, athletic health care teams (AHCTs) to approach the issue of athletic injuries in a comprehensive way.

The purpose of the hazing policy issued by the National Federation of State High School Associations is to maintain a safe learning environment that is free from hazing for students and staff members, Hazing activities of any type are inconsistent with the educational goals of a school district and are prohibited at all times.

Properly fitted mouth guards reduce the oral-facial injury rate significantly in sports and are recommended for all contact sports by the NFHS.

Despite the popularity of energy drinks, especially among teens, both the National Federation of State High School Associations and American Academy of Pediatrics strongly recommend against their consumption by children and adolescents because of their potential adverse health effects.