Los Angeles Angels Team Up With Mission Hospital, Part Of St. Joseph Hoag Health To Encourage Fans To 'Be A Helmet Head'

IRVINE, Calif., May 27, 2016 /PRNewswire/ -- Mission Hospital, part of St. Joseph Hoag Health, and the Los Angeles Angels are teaming up to encourage athletes of all ages to protect their heads when they play contact sports. The "Be a Helmet Head" partnership is raising awareness about the seriousness of concussion, the need to recognize and respond to the signs of concussion, and the importance of wearing a helmet to safeguard against serious injury to the head and brain.  Helmets can reduce the risk of severe brain injuries by up to 88 percent, according to the American Association of Neurological Surgeons. Without proper protection, a fall of as little as two feet can cause a skull fracture or other traumatic brain injury.

"My helmet is the most important piece of protective equipment that I wear," said Johnny Giavotella, second baseman for the Los Angeles Angels. "There are many different ways to get injured in baseball, and the Angels are all about safety and injury prevention. Helmets are a must for everyone from little leaguers, to high school softball players, to adults in weekend leagues. So be a helmet head and protect yourself."

"Summer sports and recreation like baseball and bicycling are prime opportunities for collisions and falls," said Almaas Shaikh, MD, a trauma surgeon and medical director of trauma at Mission Hospital, which is the only verified trauma center in all of south Orange County. "Mission Hospital treats head injuries that happen in a variety of sports, and we know that a helmet can make the difference between a bump or scrape on the head and a concussion, skull fracture or other serious trauma. And head trauma isn't limited to the sports field or the gym. A helmet has saved the lives of many bike and motorcycle riders. At Mission Hospital, we believe the best way to treat traumatic injury is to prevent it from happening in the first place."

The "Be a Helmet Head" effort continues an ongoing partnership between Mission Hospital, part of St. Joseph Hoag Health and the Angels to promote health and safety awareness in communities across Orange County and Los Angeles. The helmet safety night coincides with the conclusion of National Trauma Awareness Month in May.

"My deepest thanks go out to Dr. Shaikh and the entire trauma team at Mission Hospital," said Seth Mohler, a 42-year-old Menifee resident who spent nearly a month at Mission Hospital after a serious motorcycle accident. "I was fortunate to have such skilled and caring doctors close by, taking care of the most seriously injured people in the community. "My wife and kids tell me that helmet saved my life, and they're right. If I hadn't been wearing a motorcycle helmet I would not have survived." Mohler, a father of four, was unconscious for 25 days and is now in a wheelchair.

"Everyone who rides, bikes, skates, or plays sports needs to be smart and put on the best helmet possible for their safety and protection," he said.

About Be a Helmet Head:
Mission Hospital, part of St. Joseph Hoag Health, is teaming up with the Los Angeles Angels this month – National Trauma Awareness Month – to encourage athletes of all ages to wear a helmet and prevent traumatic brain injury. The goal of "Be a Helmet Head" is to emphasize that wearing a helmet during sports and recreational activities is a crucial safety measure to prevent concussion and brain injury.

About Mission Hospital As a part of the St. Joseph Hoag Health, Mission Hospital was founded in Mission Viejo in 1971 and has since grown to a two-campus facility with 552 beds and approximately 2,500 employees. Mission Hospital, a ministry of St. Joseph Health, has been serving the greater needs of the community for more than 40 years, improving the quality of life in the communities it serves in the tradition of the Sisters of St. Joseph of Orange. Mission Hospital in Mission Viejo is an acute care, full-service facility providing advanced health care services and diagnostic care to south Orange County and is the only designated trauma center in South Orange County. Mission Hospital Laguna Beach (MHLB) provides South Orange County coastal communities with 24-hour emergency and intensive care as well as medical-surgical/telemetry services. Mission Hospital offers specialty care in cardiovascular, neuroscience and spine, orthopedics, women's services, urology, mental health & wellness, head and neck and other key specialties. CHOC Children's at Mission Hospital is a 48-bed facility that is the area's only dedicated pediatric hospital for more than two decades. Fully accredited by The Joint Commission and designated as a Magnet hospital by the American Nurses Credentialing Center for nursing excellence, Mission Hospital has received numerous awards and recognition for its high quality of care. For more information, visit www.mission4health.com.

About St. Joseph Hoag Health:
St. Joseph Hoag Health is a historic alliance for Orange County, laying the foundation for sweeping changes in the delivery and accessibility of high quality health care. Combined, St. Joseph Hoag Health has earned some of the highest honors for medical care, including Magnet designation for many of its hospitals (the highest honor bestowed to hospitals for nursing excellence). Drawing upon the strengths of renowned health care organizations, St. Joseph Hoag Health focuses on meeting the big challenges of health care today, including expanding access, improving wellness and preventive services, ensuring quality and developing more efficient methods in the delivery of care. The network includes flagship hospitals (Hoag Newport Beach, Hoag Irvine, Hoag Orthopedic Institute, Mission Hospital Mission Viejo, Mission Hospital Laguna Beach, St. Joseph Hospital Orange and St. Jude Medical Center), eight medical groups and physician networks and numerous outpatient and urgent care facilities in Orange County. The network is also affiliated with CHOC Children's and CHOC Children's at Mission Hospital. For additional information, visit www.stjhs.org.  

SOURCE St. Joseph Hoag Health

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