Letter From the Editor - February 2010
By: Jill Pinheiro

How safe are your athletic facilities? Are they properly equipped to keep your student athletes healthy and injury-free?

With nearly 7 million high school students participating in sports today, there are a reported 715,000 high school sports-related injuries each year, and 8,000 children are treated in emergency rooms each day for sports-related injuries.

"Because youth athletes today continue to play more sports, or one sport at a more intense level of play, they are experiencing chronic and sometimes catastrophic injuries that could sideline them for a season or even a lifetime," said Marjorie J. Albohm, president of National Athletic Trainers' Association.

The Alliance to Address the Youth Sports Safety Crisis in America, spearheaded by NATA, encourages teachers, coaches, athletic trainers, and other school personnel to take the following actions:

* Ensure that youth athletes have access to health care professionals who are qualified to make assessments and decisions.

* Educate about the symptoms of musculoskeletal and neurological injuries.

* Ensure pre-participation exams before play begins.

* Support further research into youth sports injuries and their effects.

* Ensure sports equipment and playing surfaces are checked for safety and best conditions.

This last bullet point, in particular, is where this magazine can help you. We're dedicated to bringing you information to help you select the best products and equipment for your athletic facilities.

I'm always interested in hearing from you. You can reach me at jill@cspmag.com.

God Bless,

Jill Pinheiro
Managing Editor

P.S. Christian School Products magazine is now on Twitter! Follow us at www.twitter.com/cspmag. Along with our e-newsletter, which you can subscribe to at www.cspmag.com, this is another way to get even more purchasing tips to help you evaluate and select products and services for your school.