Health News Now 7/10: Concussions and Kids in Hot Cars
(WGGB) – When it comes to young athletes, concussions are a growing concern among parents, coaches and doctors.
Now the American Academy of Neurology is asking doctors to take new liberties, urging them to cross the line of doctor-patient confidentiality to protect players. They’re asking that doctors get young athletes to sign waivers up front. These waivers would allow doctors to communicate directly with coaches if the player gets a concussion, especially if that player is unfit to go back on the field.
They hope it will save over-eager kids from going back too soon, and they said it should also act as an emergency brake against the pressure of playing for athletic scholarships.
It’s heartbreaking to hear the news of a small child dying in a hot car. Unfortunately, these stories are all too common. According to the National Highway Traffic Safety Administration, about 38 heatstroke deaths happen each year in the United States. About half of those deaths involve a parent or caregiver forgetting about a sleeping child in the backseat. That’s why doctors are reminding parents that children are at risk of heatstroke, even when it feels cool outside.
In direct sunlight, car windows act like a greenhouse, trapping sun and heat inside the car.
“A child’s body’s temperature rises 3-5 times faster than an adult’s. Even when with the window slightly down, the car temperature can reach to 125 degrees within minutes. That’s scorching and that can lead to heat strokes, heat exhaustions, and kids left in the car alone for small or extended periods of time can be fatal,” said Dr. Grover.
He recommends leaving a stuffed animal in the front seat to serve as a reminder that your baby is in the back, or putting things that you need, like your cellphone or wallet, in the backseat next to your child. And if you notice a child sitting unattended in a car, call 911 immediately.