February 14, 2012 in Sports, Idaho

Idaho looks at changing state concussion law

Associated Press
 
Tags:athleticsconcussionhead injuriesidaho legislatureSports

BOISE — Athletics coaches and officials would be required to remove players from games who show signs of a concussion, according to a measure aimed at boosting protections for young athletes who suffer head injuries.

Rep. Erik Simpson of Idaho Falls wants to strengthen laws passed in 2010 in the wake of several severe concussion cases.

According to Simpson’s proposal, an athlete could return to play if he or she were cleared by a qualified medical professional.

Parents couldn’t make the decision, Simpson said, to eliminate conflicts of interest.

Though some lawmakers at today’s House State Affairs Committee hearing worried the bill saddles coaches with undue responsibility, Rep. Carlos Bilbao of Emmett says it would help remedy dangerous situations where a head injury could be a “death warrant” for a young athlete.

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Three comments on this story so far. Add yours!

  • Al_Loysius on February 14 at 10:58 a.m.

    Sounds like the proposal is similar to the Zachary Lystedt Law we adopted in WA a few years ago. Everybody has pretty well come to accept those procedures so that kids don’t try to act like a tough guy and expose themselves to death or permanent injury.

    Scrambled brains do not heal very well.

  • RedCedar on February 14 at 11:38 a.m.

    Ah, you’re not hurt, kid. Just rub some dirt on it and get back in the game!

  • k2kelley on February 14 at 3:58 p.m.

    DUH!! Legislators are really on top of things again. BFO (blinding flash of the obvious)

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