Guidelines issued for cheerleading safety

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Back in the 1800's, when cheerleaders first appeared on a field, their main goal was to get fans to root for their team, either by yelling chants, clapping or using pom-poms. But that's all changed. Now many cheerleaders perform gymnastic stunts that are not only breathtaking but dangerous. Should cheerleaders be physically protected just like the athletes they support on the field? Here's April Williams with today's Health Minute.
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IT MAY SEEM LIKE A LOT OF FUN, BUT WITH ALL THOSE FLIPS, KICKS AND JUMPS, A CHEERLEADER CAN GET INJURED.
THAT'S WHY, THIS WEEK, THE AMERICAN ACADEMY OF PEDIATRICS HAS PUBLISHED A LIST OF RECOMMENDATIONS ON HOW TO KEEP CHEERLEADERS SAFE.
THESE DAYS, CHEERLEADERS ARE A LOT LIKE ACROBATS. AND THERE'S BEEN SOME DEBATE OVER WHETHER CHEERLEADING IS A SPORT. SOME CHEERLEADING ORGANIZATIONS SAY IT DOES NOT MEET CRITERIA NECESSARY TO BE CONSIDERED A SPORT. BUT THE AAP SAYS, IT SHOULD BE TREATED LIKE ONE, BECAUSE LIKE OTHER ATHLETES, CHEERLEADERS CAN SUSTAIN SERIOUS INJURIES.
ACCORDING TO THE REPORT, CONCUSSIONS AND OTHER CLOSED-HEAD INJURIES ACCOUNT FOR 4% TO 6% OF ALL CHEERLEADING INJURIES. AND HEAD AND NECK TRAUMA MAKE UP APPROXIMATELY 15% OF ALL CHEERLEADING INJURIES SEEN IN U-S EMERGENCY ROOMS. MOST INJURIES COME DURING PRACTICE AND IN COMPETITION.
THE AAP SAYS CHEERLEADING SHOULD BE SUBJECT TO THE SAME RULES AND REGULATIONS THAT OTHER SPORTS FOLLOW.
THEY ALSO RECOMMEND CHEERLEADERS SHOULD HAVE PHYSICALS TO MAKE SURE THEY ARE STRONG ENOUGH TO PARTICIPATE AS WELL AS BE SUPERVISED BY QUALIFIED COACHES WHO HAVE BEEN TRAINED IN PROPER SPOTTING FOR GYMNASTICS AND OTHER STUNTS.
THE AAP ALSO BELIEVES CHEERLEADERS SHOULD LIMIT THEIR STUNTS, AS WELL AS AVOID HARD SURFACES WHEN PERFORMING THEM. AND LIKE ANY OTHER ATHLETE, CHEERLEADERS SHOULD BE CHECKED AND MONITORED FOR CONCUSSIONS IF THEY HAVE A HEAD INJURY.
FOR TODAY'S HEALTH MINUTE, I'M APRIL WILLIAMS.
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