WHEREAS, It is estimated that 36% of all unintended childhood injuries are sports-related and 30% of all unintended childhood injuries are oral-facial in nature; and

WHEREAS, Mouthguards have the capacity to protect oral soft tissue (mouth, lips, cheeks, tongue, and gums) of certain sporting event participants from laceration due to contact with equipment and other players; and

WHEREAS, Mouthguards have the capacity to protect oral hard tissue (teeth and upper/lower jaw bones) of certain sporting event participants from fracture due to contact with equipment and other players; and

WHEREAS, Mouthguards have the capacity to protect brain tissue of certain sporting event participants from concussion due to contact with equipment and other players; and

WHEREAS, Mouthguards are currently required in some contact sporting events (field hockey, football, ice hockey, lacrosse); and

WHEREAS, Participants, parents, and coaches should be knowledgeable of oral-facial injury potential during contact sporting events and the importance of mouthguards as a preventive measure; now, therefore be it

RESOLVED, That the Senate of the State of Rhode Island and Providence Plantations hereby respectfully requests the Rhode Island Department of Elementary and Secondary Education and the Rhode Island Department of Health to encourage each local educational authority in the state to promote mouthguard use by participants in sponsored contact sporting events; and be it further

RESOLVED, That the Secretary of State be and he hereby is authorized and directed to transmit a duly certified copy of this resolution to the Commissioner of the Department of Elementary and Secondary Education and the Director of the Department of Health.