Some Hawaii public school officials have responded slowly to the possibility of head injuries of high school athletes, but rules are needed to immediately sideline injured youths until they are cleared of greater harm. The state Department of Education should follow most other states that already have enacted school requirements protecting students from possible concussions.

The public became aware of the danger last August, when 17-year-old quarterback Alan Mohika of private Damien Memorial School lost consciousness and was put on life support in suffering his second concussion in a year. The number of reported concussions among Hawaii public school students rose to 446 in 2010-2011, from 213 in the 2007-2008 school year. The influx may have resulted from increased awareness, but that alone is insufficient in dealing with the peril.

Thirty states and the District of Columbia have followed Washington state in enacting the Zackery Lystedt Law, named for a middle school football player who suffered brain injury in 2006 because of playing with an undiagnosed concussion. The Hawaii legislation would address the occurrence of brain injuries in activities such as football, soccer, bicycling and skateboarding.

Ray Anderson, the National Football League’s executive vice president of football operations, testified Friday in support of the bill before the state House Health Committee: "We accept the responsibility that comes with our popularity, and we know we have to set the right example for athletes at all levels and all sports. … We as a league have made it a priority to advocate for the passage of state laws governing youth concussion in all 50 states."

This NFL position should be considered in the context of its defense in a current lawsuit. The day before Anderson testified here, a six-judge federal panel in Miami heard arguments about whether to consolidate concussion-related lawsuits against the NFL in six different states involving nearly 300 retired pro players. They include former University of Hawaii gridiron star Rich Miano, a defensive back for three NFL teams from 1985 to 1995 and, until recently, the associate head football coach at UH.

"I have friends who I played with who are now seeing the effects of head injuries," Miano, who is currently asymptomatic, told Medill Reports at the Miami courtroom. "When you played in the ’80s and ’90s, like I did, I think they weren’t even calling them concussions or monitoring head injuries. It’s like Russian roulette — the more you play the more your chances are to get concussions."

Among other facets, the bill before Hawaii lawmakers would require a boy or girl to be removed from a game, practice or other activity after showing signs, symptoms or behaviors "consistent with a concussion, such as loss of consciousness, headache, dizziness, confusion or balance problems." The student would not be allowed to return to the activity until cleared in writing by a licensed health care professional.

The DOE began a concussion educational program last year. This legislation would go further, requiring the DOE and the Hawaii School Athletic Association to develop a program to educate students, parents, sports officials, faculty and staff and school administrators of the signs and symptoms of concussion and what to do about it. Another annual session would be for coaches and athletic trainers.

In addition, schools should make certain that children are protected by proper headgear, although not included in the legislation. Industry data indicates more than 100,000 children nationally wear helmets too old to adequately protect them.

Scholastic sports are a positive element of education and should not be discouraged because of the risk of injury. Schools, both public and private, should be more responsible for providing the protection needed to safely encourage the activities.