Not knowing that this would be the last basketball game that one would ever play again, make every last point count, just as Fennville High School junior basketball star, Wesley Leonard did back on March 3, 2011. Leonard made the game winning basket and then minutes later, while celebrating with his teammates, he collapsed to the floor. The autopsy would later reveal that Wes had an enlarged heart. Sudden deaths in young and talented athletes across America are increasing. However, one never realizes this is happening until someone close to them becomes the victim. There are many ways to help prevent these outcomes. These sudden deaths can be avoided by putting mandatory rules in place that require all athletes to get more in-depth physicals and an electrocardiogram (EKG or ECG) screening, requiring all public places to have a working automated external defibrillator (AED) on site, and make sure all coaches, players, parents and fans know how to quickly react to these situations when they occur. This will help to dramatically decrease the number of deaths attributed to cardiac arrest. Many researchers believe there is nothing that can be done to prevent sudden death in these young athletes. They have not thought of positive ways or solutions that could help these young lives to survive. Putting the necessary tools and instructions in place could make a huge difference. Bowman (2011) reported that “of 80 deaths from medical causes, 56 percent were heart related” (para. 10). Requiring athletes in all sports to get more in-depth physicals including an EKG would be extremely beneficial. Regular routine physicals typically only include listening to your heart and taking your blood pressure, but Bowman (2011) stated that “Some sports medicine specialist and the advocacy group Parent Heart Watch are urging that all young athletes participating in heavy training at the high school level or even in junior high school competitive sports undergo cardiac screening as part of a pre-participation physical” (para.4). Cardiac screening would help to detect any heart issues such as an irregular heartbeat. In addition, a more in-depth family history form should be filled out during a regular routine physical. If anyone in the family has had any past heart problems, it would require that the athlete be further tested. In the article by Mosca, Shay, and Maron (2007), Maron stated “many of the cardiac diseases that can lead to sudden death can be spotted through screenings” (para.8). The benefit of being tested are not just to be cleared to play sports, but to also know if one has carried down a genetic disease from a family member. It is hard to imagine that the only thing standing between life and death for Wes was an AED that had working batteries in it. Richard Helgeson (2007) explained that “you have about 10 minutes [from collapse to death]. An AED can bring you back to life. The only thing that will save you is an AED. You get the shock and live, or you don’t and you die” (para. 14). However, making sure that all public facilities are equipped with a working AED should also be mandatory. The cost of an AED is around $2,600 (Never Forgotten, 2013), but it is not enough to just have an AED in place. There needs to be a yearly equipment check on these devices to make sure it is properly working. Alongside having the AED, all employees, along with coaches and staff within the facility having the AED device, need to receive adequate training on how to use it. In addition to knowing how to use the AED in an emergency situation, all coaches, staff members, and parents need to be certified in CPR and know how to react if such an event occurred. All coaches need to have a documented action plan put together for each sports season, making sure all of the correct procedures are clear to understand to help save someone’s life. If every person in America was trained on basic medical procedures regarding what
son. It happened so fast she couldn’t believe it. They were hit by a drunk driver. Injured four kids and killed one innocent child at the age of five. Every year we tend to lose a loved one due to those that choose to drive under the influence. In 2010, 1,768 people died in California due to traffic crashes that were a result of alcohol and other drugs. Drunk driving kills a large amount of people every year. Drinking and driving not only puts one’s life on the line, but also endanger the life of…
therefore makes an extremely uneducated decision. Many people believe that increasing fines for drunk driving offenders will play a significant part in the cutting down of driving under the influence. However, while stiffer DUI laws will look affective on paper, they will not make a substantial step in the fight against drunk driving. Another factor that can affect a person’s decision to drive drunk comes with his friends. A person needs to possess enough common sense to not let someone who is…
Drunk Driving and Teens Wisconsin is ranked as the “drunkest state.” With that in mind it is not a surprise that WI also has one of the highest drunk driving rates in the United States. Some people might be proud of that because we made it on a chart, but really; is that something to be proud of? Unfortunately, teens in WI are engaging in drinking and as a result, driving and other risky behaviors at younger ages. Nationwide an estimated 6.6 million children under the age of 18 live in…
Drunk driving has never been a pretty sight or something that has been approved by society. Not only does being under the influence while driving pose a threat to the well-being of the person driving but also endangers the welfare of others driving that path. Driving under the influence is a choice and any deterrent is totally for warned. I strongly believe that there should be zero tolerance for driving under the influence of alcohol. A mandatory jail sentence on the first offense would send…
Every day in America, another 27 people die as a result of drunk driving crashes. Drunk driving is very dangerous. Driving while intoxicated is hazardous to your health, and to the well-being of others. It can kill you, other innocent people, you can be locked up, and taken away from your loved ones, and it is illegal. Driving while intoxicated can be very harmful to your health, because it can kill you. On the other hand, it can kill an innocent person, who happens to be near you on the road while…
DRIVING WHILE DRUNK Scott Lambeth Hodges University English Comp1 Professor Gomez April 12, 2011 This is a Problem-Solution paper addressing Driving While Intoxicated. It will discuss the problem of drunk drivers and the damage they cause, and some possible solutions and responses as to how to deal with them and the arguments they may have against people seeking to protect themselves. TABLE OF CONTENTS 1) Cover Page 2) Thesis statement 3) Table of Contents 4-5) The Problem of Driving…
Drunk Driving “This year, 10,839 people will die in drunk-driving crashes - one every 50 minutes” (NHTSA). Sadly two of my friends have become part of this statistic that was produced in 2009. Drunk driving is a worldwide problem that is very prominent in the United States. The large number in deaths through the past years has made driving under the influence a major social issue. Drunk driving has had a long history, with deaths comparable to wars, but can be prevented. This illegal activity can…
explores how I calculated the probability of a person in the United States being killed in an alcohol related car accident. Edgar Snyder and Associates is a law firm that represents people who have been injured in car accidents. In a website titled Drunk Driving Accidents Statistics, Edgar Snyder and Associates explores the statistics surrounding alcohol related car accidents. Throughout the article, Edgar Snyder and associates discuss statistics for car accidents that occurred in 2009 and the years…
Part 1 Identify the Issue Be sure to include complete sentences. Section Heading Why is this a problem, especially for teen drivers? Statistics from research regarding teen crash rates. Information This is a problem because teenagers are immature and lack of expirience Motor vehicle crashes are the leading cause of death among 15- to 20-year olds, according to the National Center for Health Statistics. How is one organization or group trying to solve this problem? Name group and what…
Drunk Driving Driving Under the Influence of Drugs and Alcohol PSY285 Week Five Rachael Unverdorben 11/23/14 As if the world is not dangerous enough as it is, we have those late night drinkers who feel fine enough to drive home. Driving under the influence of alcohol or drugs is against the law and very deadly. According to the National Highway Traffic Safety Administration (NHTSA) ”33,561 people died in traffic crashes in 2012 in the United States”, due to driving under the influence. Of course…