It’s about head trauma, not insurance, says concussion bill co-sponsor

Pago Pago, AMERICAN SAMOA — Local certified athletic trainer, Florence Wasko, medical doctors and “our legal team” thoroughly reviewed a House bill that calls for 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 — before it was introduced in the House.

This is according to Rep. Larry S. Sanitoa, one the co-sponsors of the House bill rejected by the Senate in second reading, due to the lack of a provision requiring insurance for student and youth athletes participating in sports programs. (See Samoa News online edition Aug. 17th for details.)

While appreciative of concerns and recommendations made by senators regarding insurance coverage, “I am however very disappointed they rejected the bill in the 2nd reading without due diligence research on the intent of the bill,” Sanitoa said Wednesday.

“The bill took us a while to get introduced because it went through a long reviewing  process by Ms. Florence Wasko, a certified athletic trainer on the island, medical doctors and our legal team,” said Sanitoa. “This legislation is similar to statutes in Hawaii and other states and territories on head trauma.”

“Due to the seriousness of head trauma to the territory’s youth,” he said the bill only addresses the concussion awareness and proper management of such injuries in sports. “It does not address all other sport injuries,” he explained.

He said that requiring insurance coverage for all youth athletic activities, should be a different piece of legislation which “will require us to do our research on whether there are insurance companies on island that can provide such services.”

The Tualauta lawmaker pointed out that the House bill specifically provides that each government agency and each private association that sponsors youth athletic activities: 

•           shall require each coach with primary supervisory responsibility and all individuals who officiate youth athletic competition complete an annual concussion recognition education course;

•           set forth the contents of the course;

•           designates a Department of Education and/ or Department of Health Certified Athletic Trainer (ATCs) as responsible agencies for providing the course; 

•           set forth required head trauma guidelines; 

•           require coaches and officials to adhere to such guidelines; 

•           provide limited immunity for coaches, officials, agencies and associations; 

•           provide for injunctive relief to require compliance with education requirements.   

He noted the preamble of the bill that states that concussions are one of the most commonly reported injuries in children and adolescents who participate in sports and recreational activities. 

Additionally, 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.

Furthermore, 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.

“Given the importance of this legislation to our youth, we will be working with our Fono legal team to look at our options and re-introduce this bill in the legislative session,” he concluded.

Similar legislation from the House was rejected by the Senate in the 36th Legislature, also due to the lack of an insurance coverage provision for student-athletes in the bill.