Back in the day, cheerleading was mostly a matter of enthusiasm. Cheerleaders were on the sidelines of a game leading cheers with their pom-poms and a few jumps and handsprings. The Texas A&M Yell Leaders provided a fine counterpoint with their military-style yells.
But anymore, cheerleading, especially in Texas, is a highly competitive and athletic sport that can lead to serious injuries and a lifetime of medical expenses.
The Increasing Yearly Numbers of Serious Cheerleading-Related Injuries
Cheerleading-related injuries can include broken arms, legs, necks, and spines, as well as skull fractures, paralysis, torn ligaments, severe concussions, and severe sprains. Our Houston catastrophic injury lawyers know that some of these injuries might result in permanent disabilities that require life-long medical care. The highly athletic stunts that define modern, especially competitive, cheerleading are a cause of these serious injuries. Human pyramids 15 feet high or more, flips, tosses, and “flying” all pose high risks of catastrophic injury.
Although cheerleading still causes fewer numbers of injuries in girls’ sports than field hockey, gymnastics, or soccer, the rate of catastrophic injuries like skull fractures and paralysis from spine injury is higher. 2011 saw about 37,000 emergency room visits related to cheerleading injuries in 6- to 22-year-old girls. (Source: khou.com, 10/22/12) That rate is more than four times higher than that of 1980, when cheerleading, even in Texas, was still a kinder, gentler sport.
U.S. Pediatricians’ Association Calling for Cheerleading to be Re-Classified and Supervised as a “Sport” for Additional Safety
The American Academy of Pediatrics is calling upon school sports associations to re-classify cheerleading as a sport, rather than an auxiliary activity related to sports. With cheerleading re-classified as a “sport,” schools would be required to cover cheerleading with improved safety rules and supervision just like other official sports.
Some of the safety improvements could include:
As with many sports, the new safety rules might include requirements that coaches be trained to recognize the symptoms of concussion and take a cheerleader out of play if he or she has received a head injury with concussion symptoms.
Contact our Houston Catastrophic Injury Lawyers if Your Child has been Seriously Injured while Cheerleading: FREE, No Obligation Legal Consultations
The symptoms and long-term effects of concussion can include dizziness, headache, and memory loss. Brain injuries and other serious injuries from cheerleading can require expensive, long-term therapies. You may need help meeting the financial burden of your child’s ongoing medical care.
At Denena & Points, our Houston catastrophic injury lawyers have more than 14 years of experience helping injured victims obtain proper financial compensation for the harm they’ve suffered. We will privately consult with you about your case, free of obligation. Contact our Houston catastrophic injury lawyers today at 877-307-9500 to schedule your free, no obligation legal consultation and learn more about your potential compensation claim.