[Congressional Record Volume 154, Number 44 (Friday, March 14, 2008)]
[Extensions of Remarks]
[Pages E424-E425]
From the Congressional Record Online through the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov]




      DESIGNATING APRIL 2008 AS `NATIONAL FACIAL PROTECTION MONTH'

                                 ______
                                 

                         HON. CAROLYN McCARTHY

                              of new york

                    in the house of representatives

                         Friday, March 14, 2008

  Mrs. McCARTHY of New York. Madam Speaker,

       Whereas 5 million teeth are knocked out each year during 
     sports activities;
       Whereas an athlete participating in contact sports has a 
     10% chance of sustaining a significant oral-facial injury 
     each season;
       Whereas studies indicate that approximately one third of 
     all dental injuries and approximately 19% 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;
       Resolved, That the House of Representatives--
       (1) designates April 2008 as `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;
       (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--

[[Page E425]]

       (a) to educate athletes about the importance of protective 
     equipment and encourage the use of all protective devices to 
     ensure the athlete's safety;
       (b) to recommend using protective equipment that meets the 
     National Operating Committee on Standards for Athletic 
     Equipment (NOCSAE) and that the equipment is clearly 
     identified as being in compliance;
       (c) to observe National Facial Protection Month with 
     appropriate ceremonies and activities.

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