IV 111th CONGRESS 1st Session H. RES. 193 IN THE HOUSE OF REPRESENTATIVES February 25, 2009 Mrs. McCarthy of New York submitted the following resolution; which was referred to the Committee on Energy and Commerce RESOLUTION Expressing support for National Facial Protection Month.

Whereas 5,000,000 teeth are knocked out each year during sports activities; Whereas an athlete participating in contact sports has a 10 percent chance of sustaining a significant oral-facial injury each season; Whereas studies indicate that approximately one third of all dental injuries and approximately 19 percent of head and face injuries are sports-related; Whereas an athlete is 60 times more likely to sustain damage to the teeth when not wearing a protective mouth guard; Whereas emerging evidence supports that youth athletes wearing full facial protection during baseball, softball, hockey, and lacrosse can significantly reduce their risk of oral-facial trauma; Whereas the Task Force on Community Preventive Services found that there is insufficient evidence, due to a lack of available research data, to support intervention programs to encourage the use of helmets, facemasks, and mouth guards to reduce oral-facial trauma in contact sports; Whereas the Task Force on Community Preventive Services has recommended additional research on the effectiveness of intervention programs to encourage the use of helmets, facemasks, and mouth guards; and Whereas April would be an appropriate month to designate as National Facial Protection Month: Now, therefore, be it

That the House of Representatives— (1)expresses support for National Facial Protection Month; (2)declares it is critical— (A)to raise awareness about the importance of using proper dental and facial protection during sporting activities; and (B)to conduct additional research to study the effectiveness of intervention programs to encourage use of helmets, facemasks, and mouth guards; (3)calls on sports health care professionals, parents, and coaches to— (A)educate athletes about the importance of protective equipment and encourage the use of all protective devices to ensure the athlete’s safety; and (B)recommend using protective equipment that meets the standards of the National Operating Committee on Standards for Athletic Equipment (NOCSAE) and is clearly identified as being in compliance; and (4)requests the President to issue a proclamation calling upon the people of the United States to observe National Facial Protection Month with appropriate ceremonies and activities.