206666 Hydration Among Young Athletes: A Legal Landmine

Monday, November 9, 2009: 10:45 AM

Mohammed R. Forouzesh, MPH, PhD, CHES , Department of Health Science, California State University, Long Beach, Long Beach, CA
Brian Baghai, JD , San Francisco University, Laguna Hills, CA
Prital Desai, MPH(c), MBBS , Department of Health Science, California State University, Long Beach, Long Beach, CA
Lisa Grabhorn, MPH , Health Science, California State University Long Beach, Long Beach, CA
Kelly Cross, MPH (c) , Health Science Department, California State University, Long Beach, Long Beach, CA
A Kentucky high school football coach was charged with reckless homicide in the death of a player who collapsed at practice as temperatures soared. Coach Jason Stinson denied water to the player, Max Gilpin, on a 94-degree day last August. Gilpin, whose body temperature reached 107 degrees, died three days after he collapsed at practice. Over the past several years dehydration has drawn more public attention with the high profile death of Minnesota Viking Korey Stringer as well as a number of deaths in high school and college athletics. Heat stroke is the second leading cause of death in the high school students. Case law has established that schools have a duty to provide athletes with quick and appropriate medical care even if the activity was voluntary. Dehydration is considered one of the most common risk factors of heat illness but is preventable when proper hydration protocols are met. The issue of hydration has created legal dilemmas for school districts all across the nation. It is highly suggested for school districts to have appropriate measures in place to prevent legal liabilities. It is important for all schools to develop a well-rounded hydration policy. In this paper legal issues, and sample policies will be discussed and presented. Also discuss ways schools could protect themselves from criminal or civil liability for hydration-related injuries. Issues such as waivers for parents or guardians to sign, the presence of defibrillators, and their appropriate use on campuses will be presented.

Learning Objectives:
Objective 1: To develop a well-rounded hydration policy for schools. Objective 2: To develop some type of waiver for parents to sign limiting school's exposure/liability for hydration- related injuries. Objective 3: To help schools develop ways to protect themselves from criminal or civil liability for hydration-related injuries.

Presenting author's disclosure statement:

Qualified on the content I am responsible for because: Professor of health
Any relevant financial relationships? No

I agree to comply with the American Public Health Association Conflict of Interest and Commercial Support Guidelines, and to disclose to the participants any off-label or experimental uses of a commercial product or service discussed in my presentation.