LOUISVILLE, Ky., Nov. 25, 2014 (GLOBE NEWSWIRE) -- Hundreds of high school football players will have a reduced risk of concussion thanks to a grant from Norton Healthcare's James R. Petersdorf Fund. This grant will provide funding to Jefferson County Public Schools (JCPS) to upgrade football helmets, begin baseline concussion testing for athletes and provide partial funding for three athletic trainers who will be assigned to Shawnee, Western and Fairdale high schools.
According to a rating system developed by researchers at Virginia Tech, approximately 26 percent of JCPS high school football helmets ranked two stars or less. Two stars represent "adequate" protection, one star is "marginal" and 0 stars are not recommended. Norton Healthcare will replace the one- and two-star helmets with four-star helmets. A total of 235 helmets will be purchased.
"We learned recently that some of the helmets fell short of what we consider good protection," said Steven T. Hester, M.D., MBA, chief medical officer for Norton Healthcare. "We work closely with JCPS and so we wanted to find a way to make this situation better.
"We are pleased that we are able to upgrade the helmets and help improve the safety of our community's student athletes."
"This is a shining example of what happens when community partners become actively invested in our children," said Donna Hargens, Ed.D., JCPS superintendent. "Stakeholder engagement is one of the tenants of our Strategic Plan Vision 2015, and we are grateful for Norton Healthcare's commitment to the safety of our students."
"This grant is the result of a phenomenal partnership between JCPS and Norton Healthcare that has been driven by our joint desire to provide our student athletes with the best protection possible," said Jerry Wyman, JCPS director of athletics and activities.
"While a player can sustain a concussion wearing any type of helmet, the quality of the helmet can greatly reduce that risk," said Tad D. Seifert, M.D., neurologist and director of the sports concussion program for Norton Healthcare. "The difference between a one- or two-star helmet and a higher-rated helmet is dramatic. It can cut head acceleration in half because it's better able to absorb shock."
Head acceleration is a major cause of brain injury in football. It occurs when a blow causes the skull to move and strike the brain, which had been stationary. The new helmets will last 10 years and will be reconditioned after each season.
To further protect athletes, Norton Sports Health will provide ImPACT testing for all football players in JCPS middle and high schools and any other JCPS high school students who play high-impact sports. These sports are soccer, cheerleading, volleyball, basketball, wrestling, lacrosse, field hockey, baseball and softball. The number of students playing these sports is approximately 10,000.
ImPACT, which stands for Immediate Post-concussion Assessment and Cognitive Testing, is a computerized evaluation system that is similar to playing a video game.
"When ImPACT is given prior to an injury, we have a baseline analysis of the player's brain function," Dr. Seifert said. "If the player sustains an injury in which a concussion is suspected, the ImPACT test is given again and helps us assess the severity of the injury and create a plan for safe return to play."
"We know that any concussion is serious," Wyman said. "But this testing will allow us to further improve the care we can provide. We want to make sure that what we do is going to contribute to the long-term success of the student — on and off the field."
According to the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention, high school athletes take longer to heal from a concussion compared with college and pro athletes; they also experience greater severity of symptoms. And sending a player back on the field before healing is complete can be detrimental, if not deadly.
"A second hit to a concussed head can be a life-changing blow, affecting speech, memory and motor skills. It's similar to suffering a devastating stroke," Dr. Seifert said.
Expanded concussion education also will be offered for coaches, athletic trainers and parents, and include user-friendly symptom charts, posters and quick-reference pocket cards at all JCPS middle and high schools.
The third part of the grant provides funds that, when matched by KORT Physical Therapy and JCPS, will provide three athletic trainers at Shawnee, Western and Fairdale high schools.
"We already have a partnership with Norton Sports Health and KORT that provides trainers at 10 high schools," Wyman said. "By expanding this with support from Jefferson County Public Schools, we'll be able to better help keep our kids safe out on the field."
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About the James R. Petersdorf Fund
The James R. Petersdorf Fund is a board-restricted fund used to further the mission of Norton Healthcare, which is to provide quality health care to all those we serve, in a manner that responds to the needs of our communities and honors our faith heritage. The fund includes provisions for education, research, workforce development, community health and technology or equipment innovation.
About Norton Healthcare
For 128 years, Norton Healthcare's faith heritage has guided its mission to provide quality health care to all those it serves. Today, Norton Healthcare is a leader in serving adult and pediatric patients throughout Greater Louisville, Southern Indiana, the commonwealth of Kentucky and beyond. The hospital and health care system is the Louisville area's third largest private employer, providing care at more than 140 locations throughout Greater Louisville and Southern Indiana. The Louisville-based not-for-profit system includes five Louisville hospitals with 1,837 licensed beds; seven outpatient centers; 12 Norton Immediate Care Centers; nearly 12,000 employees; nearly 700 employed medical providers; and approximately 2,000 total physicians on its medical staff. In 2014 Norton Healthcare was named by Healthiest Employers as the seventh healthiest place to work in the country. More information about Norton Healthcare is available at NortonHealthcare.com.
About Norton Sports Health
Norton Sports Health, a part of Norton Healthcare, is one of the Louisville area's leading sports-related injury prevention and treatment programs. From professional, collegiate and high school competitors to those who simply want to stay fit, Norton Sports Health provides advanced care for athletes and active individuals of all ages. The Norton Sports Health specialists are experts in arthroscopic surgery and other minimally invasive procedures used to treat sports-related injuries of the shoulder, elbow and knee. In addition to treating sports injuries, these specialists are involved in research to gain a better understanding of why athletes become injured. The Norton Sports Health team includes fellowship-trained orthopaedic surgeons, neurologists, professional trainers and physical therapists who work together to design customized programs to meet each patient's specific needs. Norton Sports Health is the official sports health provider for many local high school, college and minor league sports teams. More information is available at NortonSportsHealth.com.