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Playing Field Safety

Artificial Turf: On The Fence About Risk

Over the past few months questions have been raised about the safety of artificial turf. I have followed the issue with interest, of course, and get e-mail requests every week asking for my views.

Frankly, I have mixed feelings about artificial turf.  I graduated from college with a full leg cast after suffering a torn ACL one March playing college lacrosse on a still partially frozen grass field in New Hampshire.  I wonder to this day whether the injury would have happened had I been playing on artificial turf.

Modern Infilled Synthetic Turf Fields Don't Harbor Staph Bacteria or Cause MRSA, Studies Say

Skin infections associated with contact with synthetic turf have received national attention in recent years, but there is no scientific evidence to support concern that the surfaces of infilled synthetic turf (the kind containing crumb rubber found in all fields built since the late 1990's) harbor the Staphylococcus aureus bacterium, the bacteria that cause MRSA, says a recent study.

Safety Comes First, No Matter Sport or Season

The winter sports season is in full swing, and spring sports are a ways off, but safety comes first, no matter what the sport or the season. Here's a sixteen-point safety checklist to keep athletes in the game.

Baseball Diamond: An Overlooked Safety Hazard?

One of the biggest hazards in baseball, yet often the most overlooked, is the diamond itself.  Sprinkler heads and gopher holes in the outfield can can cause players to slip, leading to sprained ankles, twisted knees or torn knee ligaments, while balls hitting pebbles on the infield can bounce up and hit a player in the throat, face, eyes, or forehead.

Moms Speaking Up for Sports Safety Should Be Applauded, Not Dismissed

There is a battle brewing at Laguna Beach High School in California. It involves protecting the safety of kids during sports, so you know which side I fall on. This is no different than hundreds of stories from across the country that that I get sent each month, but this caught my attention because it talked about a Methicillin-resistant Staphylococcus Aureus (MRSA) infection which is a potentially fatal bacterium that too few sports parents know much about.  Artifiical turf end zone

Managing Asthma in Sports

Asthma and exercise-induced asthma (EIA) among athletes are common, but athletic performance need not be hindered if your child takes an active role in controlling the condition and follows good practice and control measures.  Indeed, if your child has asthma, he or she should be encouraged  to exercise as a way to strengthen muscles, improve respiratory health, enhance endurance, and otherwise improve overall well-being. 

 

 

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Artificial Turf: Debate Continues Over Safety

Artificial turf fields are growing in popularity. At the same time, a debate is heating up about possible health risks, with more state and local governments getting involved.

Turf Wars: Pros and Cons of Artificial Turf

As more and more communities build artificial turf fields, the debate about possible health risks and the advantages and disadvantages continues.

Minimizing Exposure of Children to Dust from Worn Artificial Turf Fields Recommended

Because the potential risks associated with exposure to dust from worn artificial turf (which may contain lead) are not yet known, the Centers for Disease Control (CDC) recommends that parents of youth athletes, particularly those under age 6, take certain precautions to minimize any potential risk.

Potential Exposure to Lead in Artificial Turf: Public Health Issues, Actions, and Recommendations

Recommendations issued the Centers for Disease Control (CDC) and its sister agency, the Agency for Toxic Substances and Disease Registry (ATSDR) on testing artificial turf products and reducing potential exposures to lead pending  further guidance from the Consumer Product Safety Commission (CPSC) the receipt of more information about the absorption of lead from artificial turf products and its capability of harm.
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