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Protests spark over concussion protocol for youth football at Gretna park
WDSU Digital Team
Protests spark over concussion protocol for youth football at Gretna park
WHAT IS AT THE HEART OF THEIR CONCERNS. HEATH IT’S A GROUP OF PARENTS : HERE IN JEFFERSON PARISH CONCERNED ABOUT SAFETY AT OAKDALE PARK HERE IN JEFFERSON PARISH AFTER A KID THEY SAY SUFFERED A CONCUSSION SEVERAL WEEKS AGO. >> I WAS THE ONLY PARENT THAT WALKED OUT ON THE FIELD TO CHECK ON HIM BECAUSE I KNOW FROM EXPERIENCE THAT THOSE THINGS CAN BE TAKEN VERY SERIOUSLY. HEATH: THIS GROUP OF PARENTS, CONCERNED, THAT THE KIDS PLAYING 9-10-YEAR-OLD FOOTBALL AT OAKDALE PLAYGROUND WERE NOT GIVEN AMPLE INSTRUCTION IN SAFETY, PROPER TACKLING, THAT NOT ENOUGH ATTENTION IS PAID TO CONCUSSION PROTOCOL. THEY ARE CONCERNED ABOUT THE SAFETY OF THEIR KIDS. THOMAS SAYS A CHILD SUFFERED A CONCUSSION LAST MONTH. >> HE SUFFERED AN INJURY DUE TO NOT REALLY BE EXPLAINED HOW TO TACKLE. AND HIS INJURY WAS AS CONCUSSION, LIKE WE FOUND OUT A DAY OR SO LATER IT WAS A CONCUSSION AND HE WENT TO THE HOSPITAL NUMEROUS TIMES FOR THE SAME INJURY. HEATH: BEYOND THAT, THESE PARENTS WANT THE RIGHT TO SWITCH PARKS WITHOUT THEIR KIDS BEING FORCED TO SIT OUT FOR TWO YEARS IF THEY DO SWITCH. >> KIDS ARE BEING TARGETED. THEY ARE BEING FORCED TO SAY AT AN ORGANIZATION THAT IS NOT SAFE OR WHERE PARENTS ARE NOT COMFORTABLE. IF THEY ASKED TO LEAVE, THEY HAVE TO SIT UP FOR TWO YEARS. IT IS NOT FAIR. HEATH: AND AS MUCH AS PARENTS ARE CONCERNED ABOUT THE SAFETY OF THEIR KIDS THAT PLAY IN THIS NINE-YEAR-OLD AND 10-YEAR-OLD FOOTBALL LEAGUE AT OAKDALE PARK, THEY’D LIKE TO HAVE THE RIGHT TO MOVE IF THEY WENT TO A DIFFERENT PARK WHERE THEY FEEL THEIR K
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Protests spark over concussion protocol for youth football at Gretna park
WDSU Digital Team
Concerned parents and kids protested outside the Jefferson Parish Parks and Recreation building Monday morning over concerns for the safety of their children playing 9 and 10-year-old football at Oakdale Playground in Gretna.Parents say one of the kids suffered a concussion recently and now they feel the parks and rec center does not pay enough attention to concussion protocol. They held signs that read "Kids Safety First" and "Child Safety Is Important" The parents said after the child suffered a concussion last month, they feel the center does not properly teach the kids about safety and proper tackling.Parents want to move their kids to a different park, but claim if that happens, the kids will have to sit out for two years. The parents are asking the parks and recreation department to give their kids a waiver to switch parks.A spokesperson for the parish said they give them out on a case-by-case basis.
GRETNA, La. —

Concerned parents and kids protested outside the Jefferson Parish Parks and Recreation building Monday morning over concerns for the safety of their children playing 9 and 10-year-old football at Oakdale Playground in Gretna.

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Parents say one of the kids suffered a concussion recently and now they feel the parks and rec center does not pay enough attention to concussion protocol.

They held signs that read "Kids Safety First" and "Child Safety Is Important"

The parents said after the child suffered a concussion last month, they feel the center does not properly teach the kids about safety and proper tackling.

Parents want to move their kids to a different park, but claim if that happens, the kids will have to sit out for two years.

The parents are asking the parks and recreation department to give their kids a waiver to switch parks.

A spokesperson for the parish said they give them out on a case-by-case basis.