A new reference guide for high-school coaches, athletes and administrators for sports-injury treatment and prevention is available from the National Federation of State High School Associations (NFHS).

The 51 NFHS-member state associations have received the first edition of the Sports Medicine Handbook to send to their member high schools. More than 19,000 handbooks were distributed.

Jerry Diehl, assistant director of the NFHS and liaison to the Sports Medicine Advisory Committee (SMAC) and member of the NCAA Committee on Competitive Safeguards and Medical Aspects of Sports, said the need for a sports medicine publication was one of the top suggestions gleaned from a recent survey of NFHS members.

"We wanted to design the handbook in a way that would be most beneficial to student-athletes, athletic trainers and coaches," Diehl said. "It continues to be an ongoing project as we have new and changing information continually."

Diehl said there is a second edition planned sometime in 2002.

Sandra J. Schultz, a doctor in the sports medicine athletic training graduate program at the University of Virginia, was selected to head up the project. Some of the topics include cold- and heat-related issues, helmet removal and concussion treatment, eating disorders, emergency planning and other areas that are common to the sports medicine field at any level.

"We completed a thorough literature review of current and relevant articles, position statements, existing guidelines and recommendations, and other information that provided the most up-to-date information on each topic," Schultz said. "Using resource documents for each topic as a basis, along with what we know to be the unique medical coverage needs at the high-school level, we included the most pertinent information on each topic for the sports medicine handbook."

Schultz also said additional references and the resource documents were listed for those who wanted more detailed information.

The SMAC consists of physicians, athletic trainers, physical therapists and representatives of the member state associations. Another responsibility of the Sports Medicine Advisory Committee is to ensure that all new rules are in the best interests of student-athlete safety. The committee also monitors and distributes current sports medicine information to the NFHS membership and works to address and educate the membership concerning general safety issues.

"The NCAA handbook was used as a guide, and we appreciate their contribution," said SMAC member Vito Perriello. "In addition, many state associations of the NFHS and their medical advisory committees were pioneers in preparing various medical guidelines for their respective states and much of their research was useful."

To order a copy of the Sports Medicine Handbook, contact NFHS Customer Service toll-free at 800/776-3462.