Boot Bullwinkle 

Posting: #2

Topic: Health

Brain bank examines athletes' hard hits—Nadia Kounang, CNN

Jan. 27, 2012

WC: 1,135

Sometimes the worst things happen to the best people. That’s the case with 17-year-old Nathan Stiles. Stiles had straight-As and was the star running back for his high school. He sang in the church choir, started on the basketball team, and was homecoming king. He was the best friend, student, son, and role model. Was.

Nathan Stiles played his last game of his life in his senior year finale of the game he loved, football. Nathan died of second-impact syndrome, which means that he suffered another traumatic hit before his brain had the chance to recover from a previous concussion.

Concussions are growing rampant in the United States despite constant efforts to limit their damage. It’s a sad part of the game, which could stand to be eradicated. I don’t want too many rules to change the game, but medical understanding of concussion could be improved, and more adequate safety equipment should be developed.

Nathan’s story is a tragic glimpse of a national tragedy. Thousands of athletes’ deaths can be related to brain trauma, and it is time that this string of accidents is eradicated—especially in youth sports. I hope that soon we will be able to understand and prevent concussions in the future.