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American Academy of Pediatrics F ~.~ ~- ~:

DEDICATED TO THL, HEALTH OF ALL CHILDREN'" "~=u~A~`ti~~

Maryland Chapter TO: The Honorable Sheila E. Hixson, Chair Members, House Ways &Means Committee The Honorable Peter A. Haininen, Chair Members, House Health &Government Operations Committee The Honorable Joie Cardin

FROM: Pamela Metz Kasemeyer Joseph A. Schwartz, III J. Steven Wise Danna L. Kauffman DATE: RE: February 12, 2014 OPPOSE House Bill 426 Education Concussion I~npc~ct Sensor Pilot Program

The Maryland Chapter of the American- Academy of Pediatrics (MDAAP) is a statewide association represeliting snore than 900 pediatricians and allied practitioners in the State and is a strong and established advocate promoting the health and safety of all of the children we serve. On behalf of the MDAAP, we submit this letter in opposition to House Bi11426. House Bi11426 proposes to create a program within Maryland high schools for the use of concussion impact sensor helmets. While MDAAP appreciates that the sponsor intends to fiirther advance Maryland's existing efforts to identify and appropriately manage concussions in school athletics, the bill as proposed would be counterproductive to Maryland's existing efforts. As you are aware, the General Assembly spent a significant amount of time developing the cui-~ent cozlctission program. That program was only recently implemented and shows great promise to assist in the identification and proper management of student athletes who may have suffered a concussion. Concussion injuries i11 sports, particularly football, are currently a prominent topic of conversation. While MDAAP strongly supports evidence-based approaches to advancing our ability to prevent a11d/or reduce the impact of concussions on young athletes, the technology involved with impact sensor helmets is incoil~plete.

The Honorable Sheila E. Hixson, Chair The Honorable Peter A. Hammen, Chair House Bill 426 Page Two

Consequently, House Bill 426 proposes the development of a program that would utilize technology that is not yet scientifically proven to be effective. The end result is likely to be failure to identify concussions where concussions have occurred and identification of cases where no concL~ssion has occurred. The Maryland Department of Education inay choose to participate in research efforts involving helmet technology but that approach was not reflected in this legislation and can be pursued without this legislation. Until such time as the research now underway can unequivocally demonstrate that helmet technology is both safe and effective, MDAAP respectfully opposes any effort to establish a program such as that proposed by House Bill 426.

For more information call: Pamela Metz Kasemeyer Joseph A. Schwartz, III J. Steven Wise Danna L. Kauffman 410-244-7000