You’ve seen the advertisements – Bellin Health promoting the Clay Mathews Football Camp. What could I possibly have against this?

Before I explain let’s look at a few facts.

At least 50 high school or younger football players in more than 20 states since 1997 have been killed or have sustained serious head injuries on the field, according to research by The New York Times.

A recent study in The American Journal of Sports Medicine found that catastrophic football head injuries were three times as prevalent among high school players as college players. And this doesn’t even take into account that often times concussions are drastically underreported in high school football in part because many youngsters – even adults- still mistakenly think the injury requires the player to have been knocked unconscious.Young players may also get sucked into the macho ethic that you just “play through it” if your marbles are rattled a bit.

If these reports aren’t serious enough, consider a more insidious aspect of football related brain  injuries. Doctors call it second-impact syndrome. Almost solely among teenagers, sustaining another blow to the head – even a seemingly benign one – before a first has healed can set off a devastating chain of metabolic events: Cerebral blood flow increases, arteries swell past capacity, and pressure builds inside the brain, often leading to coma and death. Helmets can do only so much to keep youngsters’ brains from sloshing inside their skulls, like the yolk inside an egg. Sudden impact from a football hit suddenly compacts the grey matter.

Pro football has slowly acknowledged the brain injury problem and is examining how to lessen the risks with improved equipment, rule changes and consistent protocol when a player sustains a concussion. When players reach the pro level apparently they have decided permanent brain injury is worth the risk.

The recent suicides of ex-pro football players has grabbed the headlines. http://usat.ly/UP31Ur  Is this what it takes before a serious discussion about the danger of football to children and teens is started? We’re talking kids here – kids unnoticed by the headlines – kids with beautiful minds not yet fully developed but full of untapped potential.  These youngsters may have unrealistic dreams of playing college or even pro ball. (Or maybe some parents with unrealistic dreams?) Kids think they will live forever. To their way of thinking having their brainsjangled from a few seasons of hitting has no real consequence. But if you ignore the truth, you suffer the consequences – you get your head hit often enough, you get dumber.

Sure, I know the argument that you can’t protect your kid from every risk in life. (That used to be the argument against seatbelts). I get it. And I also realize this particular football camp will not have tackling. But anyone who would argue that that makes it acceptable is missing the point.We’re talking about Bellin Health’s active approval and promotion of an activity that could have dire and long-term health consequences. Sponsoring marathons is a credit to Bellin Health as it is a boon to the community and great for promoting healthy lifestyles, but we’re talking potential BRAIN injuries here – brain cells destroyed you can never get back from an activity that is totally needless. Supply the medical field with casualties from the football field.

Parents have to weigh the risks of possible permanent injuries to their youngsters with the benefits of a fun, but brutal, sport. O.K. I get that, too. But what I don’t get is why Bellin Health, of all people, thinks encouraging 7-14 year-old boys and girls to play football is a suitable sponsorship – something they should endorse. It’s like Weight Watchers promoting an all-you-can-eat buffet, but while losing pounds you gain may be difficult, gaining brain cells you lost is impossible. Bellin Health’s reputation in our community is excellent – but they really fumbled the ball on this one.

James Rodowca, L.Ac.