SPRINGFIELD, Ill. - To help preserve the safety of young people participating in sports, state Rep. Mike Smiddy, D-Hillsdale, voted to pass legislation protecting student-athletes suffering from concussions from sustaining further injuries.
"Science has shown that multiple concussions have lasting negative health consequences," Smiddy said. "Sports are a great way to build character and discipline for students, but we must be certain that the long-term health of young people is not put at risk as a result of their participation."
That National Federation of State High School Associations estimates that at least 140,000 student-athletes sustain concussions annually through their participation in sports. Smiddy joined a bipartisan group of legislators in supporting Senate Bill 7, which would require physician evaluation and approval before a student athlete could return to regular academic or extracurricular athletic activity. Under the bill, schools would also create emergency plans for handling instances of traumatic brain injury and develop concussion training for coaches, trainers and school nurses. The implementation of these plans would be supervised by concussion oversight teams, made up of physicians, school athletic trainers and nurses. The measure is supported by the Illinois High School Association, Illinois Athletic Trainers Association, Illinois Advanced Practice Nurses Association, the University of Illinois and many Illinois hospitals.
"As a father of two young student-athletes, I'm extremely concerned with the prospect of sport-related concussions and the health consequences that can result if they go untreated," Smiddy said. "Providing a safe and productive education for young people is my first priority and this legislation will help to preserve the safety of our student-athletes."
Senate Bill 7 passed both houses of the General Assembly with bipartisan support and now awaits action from the governor.
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