NFL Evolution will feature a guest columnist every Tuesday, each with a different viewpoint of player health and safety from the youth level to pro football.By Dr. Joseph F. Waeckerle, NFL Leeds United Jersey Evolution columnistLast week, the NFL hosted officials from the National Athletic Trainers' A sociation, and the American Medical Society for Sports Medicine completed two days of meetings and programs with representatives from all 50 state high school athletic a sociations. Their focus was to expand the reach of the laws enacted by all 50 states that protect athletes who might have sustained a concu sion. The basics of these youth concu sion laws help medical profe sionals ensure the right steps are being followed.The overall intent of these legislative efforts is to better protect the concu sed student-athlete by: Mandating proper evaluation and care for potentially concu sed or concu sed student-athletes Minimizing the Premier League Jersey potential risk for the concu sed student-athlete to incur short- or long term complications of concu sions Promoting educational opportunities for involved and interested parties, and providing researchers with a better understanding of the clinical picture and public health problem of sports-related concu sions.A vast majority of state legislatures and state officials, health care profe sionals, and others dedicated to providing "best practices" care to the potentially concu sed or concu sed student-athlete agree that there should be at least three integral components to any state law on concu sions. They should:Provide information and education on concu sions for student-athlete and their parents/guardians and require them to sign a concu sion information form.Require the immediate removal of student-athlete from any athletic participation, practice or play, if a concu sion is suspected.Require medical clearance by licensed health care profe sional trained in evaluation and management of concu sions prior to return to practice or play. Most of the state laws contain these three principles consequently the laws establish minimum requirements of quality concu sion care and define, in general terms, who is competent to provide that concu Southampton Jersey sion care.In addition, there are additional components worthy of consideration for inclusion in state laws. These components further enhance beneficial care to student-athletes and their families. Various states have included some of these considerations in their youth concu sion laws:The school should have a specific concu sion planThe school concu sion plan must have an emergency action planSchool administrators, boards, and staff including the athletic staff should be accountable for the school concu sion planBaseline testing of student-athletes is encouraged/requiredTraining for coaches is requiredDistribution of concu sion information including the school plan to coaches, student-athletes, and parents/guardians is requiredConcu sion requirements apply to private youth sports organizations as well as schools/school systemsMaintain records Crystal Palace Jersey and institute a surveillance program and review yearlyConsider civil liability provisionsBy enacting these laws, states have partnered with student-athletes and their families, school systems, health care profe sionals, and communities to foster optimal concu sion care. Certainly, these laws are an excellent start but as the scientific community advances the knowledge and management principles about concu sions, the laws must evolve accordingly. The goal of providing "best practice" care for the student-athlete from recognition of a potential concu sion to complete recovery, return to well-being, remains foremost for all involved.Dr. Joseph F. Waeckerle is clinical profe sor of emergency medicine at Africa Jersey the University of Mi souri-Kansas City School of Medicine. He also is editor emeritus of Annals of Emergency Medicine. He has practiced Emergency Medicine and Sports Medicine and has been a team physician at the grade school, high school, college, and profe sion level for over 30 years. He currently serves on the NFL Head, Neck, and Spine Injury Committee and the Mackey White Brain Injury Committee of the NFL Players A sociation.