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A second look at rec safety
(by Megan Burrow - September 10, 2008)
In light of two recent deaths of teenage athletes, Westwood is considering increasing the safety precautions at recreation events in the borough.
Sean Fisher, a 13-year-old Waldwick middle school student died Aug. 25 from a previously undetected heart condition after collapsing during drills in a recreational football league.
The very next day, Douglas Morales, a junior at
Cliffside Park
High School died as a result of a head injury sustained during a tackling drill the previous Friday.
Mayor John Birkner raised the issue during the Sept. 2 council meeting and urged the governing body to explore ways the borough can try to ensure the safety of its young athletes.
He also spoke of the need of the ready availability of an automated external defibrillator (AED) at recreation and sporting events. AEDs are portable devices which can be used in cases of life-threatening cardiac arrhythmia to shock the heart into a normal rhythm and prevent cardiac arrest.
Currently Westwood has two of the devices, one in the borough hall and another in the community center on Jefferson Avenue.
Because the immediate availability of an AED could mean the difference between life and death, Birkner is interested in making the devices required at every recreation event.
“It’s not just for the safety and well-being of the children, but also the spectators,” he said. “The units are small, portable, and relatively inexpensive.”
Especially with the anticipated development and increased use of
Westvale
Park , Birkner stressed the need for coaches and sports groups to have sufficient safety training to handle a medical emergency.
According to Gary Buchheister, Westwood’s recreation director, every volunteer coach in Westwood must attend a three-hour workshop which touches on basic safety, first aid, and liability, as well as how to deal effectively with parents, officials, and children with special needs.
The course is required by the Joint Insurance Fund, which insures the borough’s youth sports.
Birkner said he is aware of the enormous amount time and effort coaches devote to youth sports, but added, “the awareness level needs to be raised a notch.”
“The commitment these guys and gals make is tremendous and it is tough to put the burden on youth coaches, but CPR classes and first aid classes should perhaps be made more accessible to these organizations.”
Megan Burrow's e-mail address is burrow@northjersey.com.
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