Fono passes bill to help prevent concussions in our young athletes

Pago Pago, AMERICAN SAMOA — The House of Representatives unanimously passed a bill instructing government agencies and private associations that are sponsors of youth athletic activities to require primary coaches and officials to complete an annual concussion recognition course; setting forth contents of the course; designation department of health as responsible agency; setting forth required head trauma guidelines; providing limited immunity for coaches, officials, agencies and associations; providing for injunctive relief.

Sponsors of the bill are Larry Sanitoa, Vailoata Amituana’i, Andra Tereise Samoa, Vesiai Poyer Samuelu, and Manavaalofa Tutuila Manase.

The Legislature finds that awareness of sports concussion injuries and the proper management of such injuries needs to be increased. It further finds that without required concussion recognition education and without recognized return to play standards for concussion and head injuries, some affected youth athletes may be prematurely returned to play resulting in actual or potential physical injury or death to youth athletes in American Samoa.

It was noted during a hearing to discuss this that without required concussion recognition education and without recognized return to ‘okay standards’ for concussion and head injuries, some affected youth athletes may be prematurely returned to play resulting in actual or potential physical injury or death to youth athletes in American Samoa.

The vote to pass this legislation was 16-0.

DETAILS

According to the Preamble of the legislation, concussions are one of the most common injuries in children and adolescents who participate in sports and recreational activities. The centers for disease control and prevention estimate that as many as 3,900,000 sports related and recreation-related concussion occur in the United States each year.

A concussion is caused by a blow or motion to the head or body that causes the brain to move rapidly inside the skull. The risk of catastrophic injury or death is significant when a concussion or head injury is not properly evaluated and managed.

Concussions are a type of brain injury that can range from mild to severe and can disrupt the way the brain normally works. Concussions can occur in any organized or unorganized sport of recreational activity and can result from a fall or from players colliding with each other, the ground, or with obstacles.

Concussions occur with or without loss of consciousness, but the vast majority that occur without injury leaves the young athlete especially vulnerable to greater injury and even death.

HOUSE RESOLUTION

A house resolution for the improvement of village reservoirs in Ituau District was introduced in the house chamber last week. The resolution was introduced by Ituau Representative Logoituau Mark Atafua.

The Resolution stated that the Ituau District has more than ten village catchment and water reservoir systems which provide residents with fresh water. These systems were first constructed by the Navy during their administration of the territory.

When the Department of Interior oversaw the government, they maintained the water system as it was the most reliable source of water to residents throughout the island. During the Interior’s administration the government developed and implemented a massive plan to pump water from underground wells and channel it through pipes into every home in the territory. This system was more reliable than water from a reservoir.

By the time of self-governance, almost all of the homes were receiving water from the wells. They did not do away with village reservoir and many village continue to use them as a source of water for both use and consumption.

The maintenance of the reservoirs shifted from the government to the village and their councils. They rely on the assistance of the Department of Public Works (DPW) and funding from the Office of Samoan Affairs for upkeep and maintenance.

For some time, the reservoir have been in hire need to repair and maintenance. Ituau residents continue  to request access tot he village water system but there is need to major improvement. The dement for access would require enlarging that water wells. It would also entail clearing shrubbery and debris that enters the open wells and obstruct the water flow.

The DPW provides assistance with some repair but can only do so when both budget and availability of labor permits. Continuous maintenance relies heavily on assistance of the Office of Samoan Affairs and their relationship with village councils. There is a clear need to use officials appointed to assist in village affairs.

There are many benefits to having a second source of water for villages, particularly Ituau which is the second largest populated district in the territory. Using water form village reservoirs would lessen the burden on water pumped from the underground wells. Further, the water is not metered so residents should see a decrease from their water bill each month.

Although brining the reservoirs to their former state will take much time and effort, it would be prudent for the government and the various partners in the local government and possibility in the private  sector to begin work on clearing, enlarging, and sourcing the water to the residents of Ituau District.

Improvement is needed for the village reservoirs to Ituau District.

Lawmakers are now on recess until the second Monday of July unless the Governor calls a special session.