Minor Troubles

Three N.C. high school football players die in 7 weeks

Posted on the September 30th, 2008 under safety, sports, teens by Carolina

The deaths have raised questions about safety on the field and whether student athletes are getting adequate medical care.

Jaquan Waller, 16, of Greenville, collapsed on Sept. 19 shortly after being tackled, according to the Raleigh News & Observer. He had suffered a concussion during practice two days earlier. A medical examiner’s report stated that the teenager had died from “second impact syndrome,” which occurs when two relatively minor head injuries occur within a short period. School officials said they did not know Jaquan had suffered a concussion during practice.

Matt Gfeller, 15, of Winston-Salem, died Aug. 24 from injuries suffered after he was hit in the upper chest during a game. The doctor who performed the autopsy said that Matt died of a “traumatic brain injury that tore a small blood vessel,” according to the News & Observer.

Atlas Fraley, 17, of Chapel Hill, died on Aug. 14, but the specific cause of death has not yet been determined. During a football scrimmage, Atlas twice complained of a headache and coaches removed him from the field each time. Later that day, the teen called 911 and complained of “full body cramps.”

Sports injury experts say that coaches and parents should insist safety comes first. Kids may try to hide pain in order to play, but adults should make sure that injuries are fully examined by licensed medical professionals. More information on protecting young athletes is here.