All Articles by Lindsey Barton Straus, JD

Road Rage: Sports Parents Victims Too

The National Highway Transportation Safety Administration (NHTSA) estimates that aggressive driving and road rage have been responsible for 2.28 million crashes and 27,935 traffic fatalities in the past five years. Interactions that might have involved non-violent gestures a few years back now may involve golf clubs or weapons. Remember, the deadliest weapons of all are vehicles themselves.

High Incidence of Disordered Eating in Female Gymnastics

While reliable statistics on the number of gymnasts affected by disordered eating or female athlete triad-related problems are not available, the stories of how such celebrated gymnasts as Nadia Comaneci, Cathy Rigby and Kathy Johnson struggled with disordered eating suggests, as one article put it, that women gymnasts are "designed for the disease." What statistics there are suggest that a significant percentage of gymnasts, particularly at the elite levels, are affected

Contagious Skin Infections in Wrestling: Twelve Step Prevention Program

With wrestling season about to begin, parents, coaches and
wrestlers need to know how the spread of communicable skin conditions, such as methicillin-resistant staphylococcus aureus ("MRSA"), can be prevented.  Here is a twelve-step prevention program.

Outbreaks of Antibiotic-Resistant Staph Infections Reported In Nation's Schools

More and more outbreaks of the antibiotic-resistant skin infection or "super bug" known as methicillin-resistant staphylococcus aureus ("MRSA") are being reported in schools across the nation. Based on reports from the Associated Press, The New York Times, and other newspapers around the country, there were outbreaks or suspected outbreaks of MRSA in October 2007 in a number of states.

Oversight of AED Program by Medical Director/Physician Essential

Automated External Defibrillators (AEDs) are manufactured and sold under guidelines issued by the U.S. Food and Drug Administration (FDA). Current FDA regulations make AEDs, like many drugs, available only to those with a physician's prescription. Simply finding a physician willing to write the necessary prescription, however, is not enough; in order for an AED or Public Access Defibrillation (PAD) program to be safe and effective, the program needs constant oversight by a medical director.

AEDs: Frequently Asked Questions

Here are answers to the most frequently asked questions about automatic external defibrillators (AEDs).

Chain of Survival for Sudden Cardiac Arrest

The Chain of Survival is a five-step process for providing treatment to victims of sudden cardiac arrest (SCA) developed by the American Heart Association (AHA) in 1990 after several decades of research into SCA. It was designed in recognition of the fact that most episodes of SCA occur outside of a hospital, with death occurring within minutes of onset without treatment. Quick execution of each and every link is critical because the chances of survival decrease 7 to 10% with each passing minute.

Calling 911: What To Say To The EMS Dispatcher

When you call 911 it is essential that you stay calm and provide the dispatcher the information she needs to send EMS to the scene as quickly as possible.

Updated American Heart Association CPR Guidelines

In 2010, the American Heart Association (AHA), in order to improve a victim's chances of recovery and to simplify teaching of CPR skills, updated its CPR guidelines.

Weak Ankles and Chronic Ankle Instability

If your child's ankle gives way more and more easily during sports, and, eventually, during everyday activities, he has developed chronic ankle instability. Often times, such instability is the result of an ankle sprain that has not been allowed to fully heal. Repeated ankle sprains cause a loss of proprioception (communication between the central nervous system and the muscles, tendons, and ligaments of the ankle), which, in turn can lead to faulty technique or a sudden loss of control or balance, either of which can, in turn, lead to even more sprains! If your child has a chronically unstable ankle, sports medicine experts say that a rehabilitation program supervised by a physical therapist is absolutely essential.