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But with sports and competition comes the risk of injury. Studies have revealed that about 2 million injuries, 500,000 hospital visits and 30,000 hospitalizations per year occur among high school athletes.
Now, the National Athletics Trainers Association has joined the American Academy of Family Physicians and the American Medical Association in recommending physician coverage at high school games and practices.
Other recommendations include having a defibrillator on the sidelines and a concussion protocol that is standardized and followed precisely.
According to researchers, you only get one shot at certain issues like cervical spine injuries and sudden cardiac events, so you need people who know what to do to be present.