DEATHS RENEW SAFETY CONCERNS : PREP FOOTBALL PROCEDURES UNDER REVIEW.

Byline: Eric Sondheimer Daily News Deputy Sports Editor 

The deaths of two Southern California high school football players in the last two weeks has caused coaches, administrators and doctors to review safety procedures for a sport that at one time was producing double-digit deaths on a yearly basis.

Almost 30 years ago, in 1968, there were 26 deaths directly attributed to high school football, according to a yearly survey conducted by the University of North Carolina. Last year, four deaths were directly related to high school football among the more than 930,000 participants. In 1990 and 1994, no direct high school football deaths were recorded.

Although the reasons for the deaths of Reseda High's Eric Hoggatt and Coronado's Adrian Taufaasau have yet to be determined by the coroner's office, the fact both were involved in football games has raised concerns about safety.

Stronger helmets, stricter rules, better coaching techniques and improved medical training are all credited for reducing football deaths.

But Dr. Fred Mueller, director of the North Carolina-based National Catastrophic Research Injury Prevention Center, said Tuesday football remains a dangerous sport.

``It's probably less dangerous than driving your car and doing other things,'' Mueller said, ``but people should be aware these accidents do happen. But a lot has been accomplished to bring them down.''

Mueller said coaches and parents must continue to be educated on ways to prevent serious injuries in football.

``I think an awareness for everybody going into the coaching field to know what safety measures there are and for parents to know what's going on in their kid's program is important,'' he said. ``What kind of equipment are they using? What's a coach doing if it's 90 degrees out there? What kind of medical help do they have if their son or daughter is injured? How will they get them to the hospital?''

Dr. Richard Ferkel, who helps organize physician coverage for 14 local high school and college teams through the Southern California Orthopedic Institute, said his organization continues to advise schools to obtain the best equipment available.

``Air helmets are much better in reducing head injuries,'' he said. ``The biggest problem we found when kids get hurt is they didn't keep air pressure up in the helmet. It's very important each week players check the pressure in the helmet with a gauge to make sure it's there.''

Ferkel warned about cheaper brands of helmets ``that may not be optimal in terms of reducing trauma'' from a blow to the head.

Coaches are re-evaluating their own safety procedures in response to the deaths.

``It kind of wakes you up to reality when you see this happen because we have a tendency not to take injuries as seriously as we should,'' St. Francis football coach Bill Redell said. ``Ninety-nine percent of injuries are minor, but you have to treat every injury as major until it's determined it isn't.''

Last year, there were 11 deaths either directly or indirectly attributed to high school football, the most since 1988. Indirect deaths included heat stroke, asthma and existing heart conditions.

``It's a safer game from a direct fatality standpoint, but to eliminate (all) fatalities isn't going to happen,'' said Dick Schindler, assistant director of the National High School Federation. ``When you start adding up the number of collisions that occur on the football field with the thousands of schools playing, the helmets kids are wearing can't protect kids from all injuries. The numbers are down pretty dramatically, but kids are dying and kids are getting paralyzed and that's hard to face.''

DANGEROUS GAME

High school football deaths that are directly and indirectly related to on-field injury:

Year Directly Indirectly

19954 7

1994 0 2

1993 3 8

1992 2 9

1991 3 3

1990 0 3

1989 4 9

1988 7 10

1987 4 4

1986 11 6

1985 4 1

Source: American Football Coaches Association annual survey of football injuries.

PREVENTIVE MEDICINE 

Here are some football safety measures recommended by Dr. Richard Ferkel, a longtime orthopedic surgeon who helps direct the Southern California Orthopedic Institute:

1. Maintain air pressure in helmets by checking with a gauge. Head injuries can occur when air pressure isn't maintained or the helmet wasn't inflated properly.

2. Make sure every helmet has been reconditioned or checked out properly.

3. Pass a state law requiring each school to have a certified trainer on campus.

4. Require coaches to take ongoing courses on athletic injuries and treatment.

CAPTION(S):

Photo, Chart, Box

Photo: Grant High School football players helpan injured teammate off the field in last Friday's game.

Terri Thuente / Daily News

Chart: DANGEROUS GAME (see text)

Box: PREVENTIVE MEDICINE (see text)