Massachusetts Lawmakers Seek to Ban This Popular Youth Sport with New Bill

by Erica LoopFebruary 25, 2019

Massachusetts state lawmakers Rep. Paul A. Schmid III and Rep. Bradley H. Jones, Jr. want to enact a ban on youth tackle football. More specifically, they want to put the ban in place for kids in seventh grade and under from playing this contact sport.

Massachusetts is hardly the first state to consider this type of youth tackle football ban. Lawmakers in California, Illinois, New York, New Jersey and Maryland have all considered similar bans in the past.

photo: KeithJJ via Pixabay

The current bill, HD.2501—also known as An Act For No Organized Head Impacts to School Children—already has 15 co-sponsors. if passed, the bill could help reduce the number of head injuries sustained by young football players in the Bay State. If a child who either becomes unconscious or gets a concussion during extracurricular game play (football or otherwise) Massachusetts law already requie a doctor’s or certified athletic trainer’s authorization before that child can get back onto the field.

If the bill passes, schools, leagues or any other group that allows children in seventh grade or below to engage in tackle football play are subject to a $2,000 to $5,000 fine. If a child (in grade seven or under) is seriously harmed during game play, the state can fine the organized school or group violating the law up to $10,000.

The bill was filed in January 2019 and has not yet been referred to committee.

—Erica Loop

Yet Another Reason Why Youth Tackle Football Is Risky for Kids, New Study Finds

These NFL Players Say Tackle Football Isn’t Safe for Kids & the Youth Sport Should End

Kids Love The Nasal Flu Vaccine? Turns Out, it Doesn’t Work

by Red TricycleApril 23, 2016

Photo: NPR

Sorry kids (and some adults), the Center for Disease Control’s Advisory Committee on Immunization Practices (ACIP) voted that live attenuated influenza vaccine (LAIV), also known as the “nasal spray” flu vaccine, should not be used during the 2016-2017 flu season.

It turns out that the spray — which is particularly popular among kids, pediatricians and parents who don’t like seeing their little ones cringe at the sight of a needle — hasn’t worked as well as the old-fashioned shot during the past few flu seasons.

Before then, FluMist protected against influenza as well as, or even better than, the flu shot. The panel’s recommendation against the spray was informed by data collected for children ages 2 through 17 that showed no evidence the nasal spray vaccine offered protection during last year’s flu season. Data also showed that FluMist performed poorly in the prior two flu seasons, but the scientists don’t know the reason.

Until an effective needle-free flu vaccine arrives, the CDC still recommends the injectable vaccine for just about everyone six months and older.

For further information, click here or go to npr.org.

Do your kids use the nasal spray vaccine? Tell us in the comments below!

H/T: NPR

How Would You Feel About the End of Daylight Saving?

by Red TricycleApril 16, 2016

Photo: E. I. Sanchez via Flickr

The dread of adjusting clocks an hour may be ending in California. Proposal AB 385 passed a State Senate committee this week and will now move to the Senate Appropriations Committee. California voters may have the opportunity to vote in favor of remaining in Pacific Standard Time year-round.

Here’s a hilarious look at the history (and reason for!) Daylight Saving:

Hawaii and much of Arizona are the only two states that observe standard time year-round.

Would you like to end Day Light Savings in your state? Tell us in the comments below!

H/T: CBS SF Bay Area

ML Interest Tag: committee

Massachusetts Lawmakers Seek to Ban This Popular Youth Sport with New Bill

Related reads

Kids Love The Nasal Flu Vaccine? Turns Out, it Doesn’t Work

Related reads

How Would You Feel About the End of Daylight Saving?

Related reads