Health Matters - December 2000  LEEDS, GRENVILLE AND LANARK DISTRICT HEALTH UNIT
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The Good ol' Hockey Game Breakfast Improves School Performance in Children “RABIES” Through Education Head lice reduction strategies, a check list for schools Immunization - Your Best Protection " I Love Not Smoking " The O.B.S.P. 10 Years of Saving Lives through Early Detection HealthNET … Resource sites for you on-line	The Good ol' Hockey Game Just as school has started up, so has Canada's most famous sport, hockey. The Canadian Hockey Association has estimated that approximately 4.5 million Canadians are involved somehow with the sport, whether they play it themselves or help organize it. Canadians just can't seem to get enough of it. However, despite its immense popularity, hockey is surrounded by controversy as well. During the 1999 - 2000 NHL season, a lot of media attention was focused on concussions and a severe eye injury that led to partial blindness. Many theories have surfaced about the reason for the rise in the number and severity of the injuries. Perhaps it can be related to the design and quality of the equipment. Manufacturers are always coming up with a faster, smoother skate or a lighter, tougher hockey stick. If it's not the equipment then perhaps it is the players themselves. Players play a more aggressive game now and sportsmanship is not as valued as it used to be. There are numerous theories out there, and very few answers. So, how can parents help protect their children and still let them enjoy the game? The Canadian Safety Association (CSA) International offers tips to parents about selecting and maintaining hockey equipment: Always look for the CSA mark when purchasing a helmet, face protector or visor. This tells you that the product has been tested and meets the requirements of the applicable standard. Make sure the helmet and/or equipment fits properly. Your local sports store should have trained staff to help choose the right one. Make sure that you only use the right face protector with the right helmet. Check your manufacturer's instructions to determine if you have the correct match. Look for the manufacturer's identification, model identity, date code, sizes or size range, CSA certification label and any limitations that the helmets, face protectors and visors may have. DO NOT paint or stick any kind of decals to the helmet, unless they come from the manufacturer or if the manufacturer says it's okay. The chemicals can damage and deteriorate the material of the helmet. They can also hide cracks and damage. Once a CSA - certified helmet has been tampered with in any way, it no longer meets requirements of the standard. Never cut a wire on the facemask to improve the field of vision. This will weaken the equipment. Regularly inspect for scratches and cracks on the facemask. Too many scratches limits vision and cracks can weaken structural strength. Throw out any damaged equipment and replace it as soon as possible with new CSA- certified equipment. (Source: CSA International, 1999) Hockey can be an expensive sport to play, but not protecting your children properly can leave lasting results. Always encourage your children to use good sportsmanship and to play safely. But, above all, ensure that their last line of defense, the equipment, is in excellent condition and that it fits correctly.
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