Tag Archives: college

Eye Protection, General Safety Issues, Hand Protection, Head Protection

FOOTBALL ISN’T JUST FUN AND GAMES!

As hundreds of parents and grandparents have done, we have watched our grandson play football since the fourth grade – beginning with flag football.  The love of the game carried him through the rest of his middle school and high school years, finishing this season as a senior.  Fortunately, the only serious injury he received was a concussion in the seventh grade.  From then on, we, as so many others, were concerned that this might happen again.  Thankfully, it didn’t.  He enjoyed the years of playing with his classmates, some of whom had aspirations to play college ball.  High school students may need that scholarship in order to enroll in college and friends and fans alike support them in attaining that goal.  We sometimes don’t realize how many of those youngsters are under pressure to get it. 

College teams earn a lot of money for their schools, through ticket sales and college gear, shirts, etc.  Those whose records make them fortunate to make a bowl game will earn even more money for their school.  There is truly a spirit of comradery between team members, playing for the glory of their school, as well as being noticed by pro scouts.

The main attraction in professional sports is, of course, the huge paycheck that they earn.  It is amazing the amount of money that football, basketball, and other pro atheletes make.  Fans buy their gear and pay large sums of money for tickets to see them play in person.  Advertisements on television also draw attention to their team.  By the way, Texas America Safety has all the great team sports hardhats, for wearing to the games and work, to show your support of your favorite team, either professional or NCAA.

The more serious side of playing football, at all levels, but especially professional, is the risk of injury.  In glancing over the NFL Injury List for Week 17, it is amazing the amount of injured players that are questionable to play this week.  Ranging from eye, jaw, collarbone, shoulder, neck, concussion, and chest injuries, the list continues to include wrist, elbow, back, abdomen, finger, hand,  quadriceps, biceps, groin, hamstring, knee, achilles, thigh, ankle, shin, to toe injuries.  Also on the list were those who were not playing because of illness.  It’s easy to see how busy trainers and physicians are, trying to get their players back on the field.

There are many professional players who are now seeing their young sons wanting to play the game.  One pro was on the news the other day, who said at first, he wasn’t going to let him play; however, because the child wanted to play so badly, he would let him.  There was one catch: he would help coach the team.  He stated that it was very important that young players learn the right way to play, in order to avoid those injuries.  Concussions are being scrutinized more than ever, due to the number of past players who suffered numerous concussions, resulting in brain damage.

Protective gear is so important is all sports: whether it is eye protection. knee pads, or padding and helmets, schools owe it to their students to provide the best possible gear to keep their players safe.

We wish all those college teams and professionals who make the play-offs the best of luck, and injury-free games.  They provide much pleasure for fans who love to see them give it their all.

 

 

 

General Safety Issues

EDUCATION, NOT INTOXICATION: DANGERS OF BINGE DRINKING IN COLLEGE (GUEST POST)

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Education Not Intoxication: Dangers Of Binge Drinking In College

The college years are enjoyable for all students who are deciding what they want to pursue as a profession. It is the first taste of true freedom for many teenagers and a true test of time management skills and direction. It is easy for a college student to be influenced by other students who may or may not be on a successful academic or professional path. Using alcohol is almost considered a rite of passage for the typical college student, but binge drinking can become a problem faster than the untrained drinker can realize.

1. What Is Binge Drinking

Rehabilitation professionals normally claim that anyone consuming over three drinks in an evening are binge drinkers. That threshold may not be reasonable to the average person. The average human can filter one ounce of alcohol per hour through their body, so it generally takes two drinks per hour to initiate intoxication. Even students who are drinking in this pattern are clearly at risk for developing long-term alcohol abuse problems. Serious binge drinking generally carries a component of drinking as a priority.

2. Avoiding Drinking Games

The popularity of drinking games has been a major contributor to collegiate binge drinking behavior. Alcohol consumption as a competitive sport is never a good idea. Novice drinkers do not have the tolerance that regular drinkers have built over time; therefore, it is just not a smart practice. Peer pressure can be a difficult situation to manage, but the best decision is always drink moderately or not at all if under the legal drinking age. This is especially true in public or strange locations because out-of-control situations happen quickly.

3. Educational Issues

Traditional college students are young and normally have the physical ability to recover quickly from a night of binge drinking.  However, this can easily become a daily habit which would then affect focus, organizational skills, and priorities. Class attendance may plummet along with grades. The effects could possibly be academic probation, the loss of a scholarship, and ultimately a dismissal from school altogether.

4. Legal Issues

The most obvious legal danger for a drinking college student is possession of alcohol. All states require individuals to be twenty-one years of age to purchase or possess alcohol. Public intoxication is also an illegal possession charge, so fines can be increased and jail time may be the consequence especially if caught driving under the influence. This could cause a student to miss a number of days from classes. It will create a time consuming battle with their perspective state’s DMV which will hinder driving privileges and cause a number of days missed to attend to the matter. Also, if attending college in Virginia, the attorneys’ at the Wilson Law Firm, would suggest that the defendant should pre-enroll in the 20-hour program, Virginia Alcohol Safety Action Program (VASAP), to show initiative to the court. This, too, would take time from classes and studying.

5. Medical Issues

The short-term effects of drinking are blackouts, promiscuity, and possibly violence. The long-term effects this process can have on the body are numerous. It is particularly true of liquor. Long-term binge drinking can create medical problems with all organs and can eventually cause death from alcohol poisoning. It is proven that brain damage can occur from alcohol abuse. It can hinder the ability to learn and to hold on to knowledge. Additionally, the possibility of a serious accident of any kind is much greater when an individual is intoxicated. Many individuals have suffered a lifetime over accidents that occurred while they were intoxicated.

College is an exciting time for the students and one of concern for parents in hopes that they prepared their son/daughter for this day of autonomy with high hopes for higher learning, great memories, and the start of a successful life. The pressures to make adult decisions can lead a student to make the decision to drink alcohol. This could lead to binge drinking which almost always results in intoxication beyond legal limits. This gives way to situations that could rapidly escalate out of control. There are just too many dangers that can stem from this practice.

Kelly Dennie is a mother of a rising college freshman who is filled with excitement and concern. The attorneys’ at the Wilson Law Firm has a checklist for defendants arrested for DUI: document the situation to the best of their ability, consult with a lawyer, pre-enroll in VASAP, obtain a copy of their driving record, and gather commendations in preparation for their defense. This situation may seem frightening but, the first step in gaining control is to understand the charges, process, penalties, and to hire an experienced lawyer.