Experts call for action to prevent deaths at US police academies, citing AP investigation
A panel of experts called Wednesday for policy and cultural changes to prevent deaths linked to heat and exertion at the nation's police academies, and insisted that urgent action is needed to save the lives of recruits.
The National Athletic Trainers' Association and the Public Safety Athletic Trainers Society convened the discussion in response to an Associated Press investigation that documented the deaths of at least 29 recruits over the last decade. The groups are drafting new guidance detailing best practices.
AP found that most recruits died of exertion, dehydration, heatstroke and other conditions tied to intense exercise — often on the first day of training, during grueling defensive tactics drills or after high-stakes timed runs on hot days.
Black recruits represented nearly 60% of those who died, a striking disparity given that federal data show Black officers make up 12% of local police forces. Many carried sickle cell trait, a condition most prevalent among Black Americans that increases the risk of serious injury following extreme exertion.
Academies should begin screening applicants for the trait, a simple $75 test that has helped drastically reduce deaths among NCAA athletes, said Traci Tauferner, an athletic trainer who has worked for years with police officers.
The screening would not disqualify applicants but rather give them and their instructors information they need to take precautions and monitor warning signs, she said.
Academies must train instructors to recognize signs of heat stroke and sickle cell complications, create a culture where recruits can report concerns without retaliation, enforce hydration protocols, and modify training based on temperatures, she said.
'We cannot let these things slide,' said Tauferner, a member of a committee of the International Association of Chiefs of Police, which also is studying the issue.
She said academies should review their exercises to ensure they reflect what officers have to perform on the job, calling a widely used 1.5-mile run 'not a really relevant standard.'
Tens of thousands of police recruits who attend academies annually are uniquely vulnerable because of the stress and physical demands they face with varying levels of staff and medical oversight, said Anna August, athletic trainer for the Fairfax County Police Department in Virginia.
She noted that no national standards govern academy training, which varies dramatically based on state laws and local practices.
'The task of preventing recruit injury or death sometimes slips through the cracks, and it's not because the instructors are neglectful,' she said. 'But they're overtasked a lot of times, and they don't have the preventive medical training to recognize something like an exertional heat illness.'
Separately, a group that sets standards for law enforcement academies worldwide is working to develop new guidance aimed at preventing recruit deaths, its deputy director said Wednesday.
The guidance will likely include standards on the type of medical personnel academies should have on scene to respond to injuries and the training instructors receive on health risks, said Brian Grisham, of the International Association of Directors of Law Enforcement Standards and Training.
The group will consider recommending new minimum fitness standards for recruits when they enter and exit the academy and guidelines for pre-academy medical screening, he said.
Grisham said his organization is trying to find consensus in a working group that includes the police chiefs' association, the leading accreditation commission for departments, and medical personnel who work in law enforcement.
'I think the goal is to make any improvement. If we can save even a small percentage, we're doing something worthwhile,' he said. 'The goal is to come up with some uniformity.'
Grisham noted that while some academies have athletic trainers or paramedics on site to respond quickly to injuries during physical training, many do not.
One recommendation, he said, could be increasing the use of athletic trainers, who have skills to prevent and respond to injuries.
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Winnipeg Free Press
a day ago
- Winnipeg Free Press
Experts call for action to prevent deaths at US police academies, citing AP investigation
A panel of experts called Wednesday for policy and cultural changes to prevent deaths linked to heat and exertion at the nation's police academies, and insisted that urgent action is needed to save the lives of recruits. The National Athletic Trainers' Association and the Public Safety Athletic Trainers Society convened the discussion in response to an Associated Press investigation that documented the deaths of at least 29 recruits over the last decade. The groups are drafting new guidance detailing best practices. AP found that most recruits died of exertion, dehydration, heatstroke and other conditions tied to intense exercise — often on the first day of training, during grueling defensive tactics drills or after high-stakes timed runs on hot days. Black recruits represented nearly 60% of those who died, a striking disparity given that federal data show Black officers make up 12% of local police forces. Many carried sickle cell trait, a condition most prevalent among Black Americans that increases the risk of serious injury following extreme exertion. Academies should begin screening applicants for the trait, a simple $75 test that has helped drastically reduce deaths among NCAA athletes, said Traci Tauferner, an athletic trainer who has worked for years with police officers. The screening would not disqualify applicants but rather give them and their instructors information they need to take precautions and monitor warning signs, she said. Academies must train instructors to recognize signs of heat stroke and sickle cell complications, create a culture where recruits can report concerns without retaliation, enforce hydration protocols, and modify training based on temperatures, she said. 'We cannot let these things slide,' said Tauferner, a member of a committee of the International Association of Chiefs of Police, which also is studying the issue. She said academies should review their exercises to ensure they reflect what officers have to perform on the job, calling a widely used 1.5-mile run 'not a really relevant standard.' Tens of thousands of police recruits who attend academies annually are uniquely vulnerable because of the stress and physical demands they face with varying levels of staff and medical oversight, said Anna August, athletic trainer for the Fairfax County Police Department in Virginia. She noted that no national standards govern academy training, which varies dramatically based on state laws and local practices. 'The task of preventing recruit injury or death sometimes slips through the cracks, and it's not because the instructors are neglectful,' she said. 'But they're overtasked a lot of times, and they don't have the preventive medical training to recognize something like an exertional heat illness.' Separately, a group that sets standards for law enforcement academies worldwide is working to develop new guidance aimed at preventing recruit deaths, its deputy director said Wednesday. The guidance will likely include standards on the type of medical personnel academies should have on scene to respond to injuries and the training instructors receive on health risks, said Brian Grisham, of the International Association of Directors of Law Enforcement Standards and Training. The group will consider recommending new minimum fitness standards for recruits when they enter and exit the academy and guidelines for pre-academy medical screening, he said. Grisham said his organization is trying to find consensus in a working group that includes the police chiefs' association, the leading accreditation commission for departments, and medical personnel who work in law enforcement. 'I think the goal is to make any improvement. If we can save even a small percentage, we're doing something worthwhile,' he said. 'The goal is to come up with some uniformity.' Grisham noted that while some academies have athletic trainers or paramedics on site to respond quickly to injuries during physical training, many do not. One recommendation, he said, could be increasing the use of athletic trainers, who have skills to prevent and respond to injuries.
Winnipeg Free Press
2 days ago
- Winnipeg Free Press
Takeaways from AP's report on financial interests of RFK Jr. adviser who runs wellness platform
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Because of his status as a temporary government employee, Means is exempt from publicly disclosing his financial details. The AP reviewed more than two dozen interviews, speeches, articles and podcast appearances by Means both before and after he joined the government. Here are some takeaways from the AP's reporting: Attacking prescription drugs, promoting wellness alternatives Means' company, Truemed, helps users take tax-free money out of their health savings accounts, or HSAs, to spend on things that wouldn't normally qualify as medical expenses, such as meal delivery services and homeopathic products — remedies based on a centuries-old, debunked theory of medicine. As a top messenger for the administration, Means has been promoting a new government report that calls for scaling back prescription drugs for depression, weight loss and other conditions. 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The company was cofounded by Dr. Mark Hyman, a friend of Kennedy and an investor in Truemed, which also offers Hyman's supplements through its platform. Like dietary supplements, the tests marketed by Function Health are not clinically approved by the Food and Drug Administration. 'It ends up favoring these products and services that rest on flimsy grounds, at the expense of products that have actually survived a rigorous FDA approval process,' said Dr. Peter Lurie, a former FDA official who is now president of the Center for Science in the Public Interest. Steering medical dollars into health savings accounts Means says he has not worked on issues impacting HSAs since joining the federal government. Federal ethics laws forbid government employees from taking part in decisions that could impact their financial situation. But before joining government, Means said the mission of his company 'is to steer medical dollars into flexible spending.' 'I want to get that $4.5 trillion of Medicare, Medicaid, everything into a flexible account,' he told fitness celebrity Jillian Michaels, on her podcast last year. Truemed collects fees when users and partnering companies use its platform. Means also founded a lobbying group, made up of MAHA entrepreneurs and TrueMed vendors, that listed expanding HSAs as a goal on its website. Means said in a statement that the group focused only on broad topics like 'health care incentives and patient choice — but did not lobby for specific bills.' Benefits of HSAs questioned Expanding HSAs has been part of the Republican health platform for more than 20 years. The tax-free accounts were created in 2003 to encourage Americans in high-deductible plans to be judicious with their health dollars. But HSAs have not brought down spending, economists say. They are disproportionately used by the wealthiest Americans, who have more income to fund them and bigger incentives to lower their tax rate. Americans who earn more than $1 million annually are the group most likely to make regular HSA contributions, according to an analysis by the nonprofit Center on Budget and Policy Priorities. Most Americans with HSAs have balances less than $500. HSA expansions in Trump's 'One Big Beautiful Bill' are projected to cost the federal government $180 billion over the next 10 years. 'These are really just tax breaks in the guise of health policy that overwhelmingly benefit people with high incomes,' said Gideon Lukens, a former White House budget official during the Obama and Trump administrations. ___ The Associated Press Health and Science Department receives support from the Howard Hughes Medical Institute's Science and Educational Media Group and the Robert Wood Johnson Foundation. The AP is solely responsible for all content.
Canada Standard
3 days ago
- Canada Standard
The food affordability crisis is one reason governments need to step up for school food
Despite the hard work and dedication of hundreds of local grassroots organizations across the country to deliver student nutrition programs, there are, too often, not enough funds to purchase the food to meet student needs. As described in a study of elementary school parents' and teachers' perspectives on school food in southern Ontario, in the city of Hamilton and Peel Region, far too many school food programs cannot adequately meet existing nutritional needs of hungry students. Some teachers described how students, as young as four years old, come to school without enough nutritious food to fuel them through the day. As a researcher who examines biological and cultural determinants of human nutrition and food security, I conducted this study with academic colleagues in partnership with the Coalition for Healthy School Food. Fortunately, in 2024 the government of Canada announced a new National School Food Program and policy. As of March 10, 2025, the federal government has made school food agreements with all provinces and territories. This is an opportunity to reinvent school food across Canada and to catch up to other G7 countries that have long-running traditions of school food programs. In our study we asked parents through an online survey and focus group discussions in Hamilton and Peel Region to tell us what they envision for a future national school food program. Eighty-three per cent of the respondents were women; respondents self-identfied as South Asian (eight per cent), Black (five per cent), Indigenous (four per cent), Middle Eastern (four per cent), Southeast Asian (three per cent), Latino (three per cent), East Asian (three per cent) and white (70 per cent). Forty-three per cent of households were classified as experiencing some level of food insecurity, with 41 per cent having an annual household income of less than $69,999. Ninety-six per cent of survey respondents said they want their child to participate in a school food program, and 77 per cent said they would be willing to pay some amount for it. In parent focus groups, and teacher interviews, participants cited such benefits as: Participants saw affordability as one of the major barriers to an accessible program. Suggestions for funding models ranged from universal free programs to government-funded programs subsidized by optional parent contributions, and corporate donor funding. Read more: School gardens and kitchens could grow with Ontario's proposed food literacy act Most parents and teachers were adamant that programs be universally accessible with nutritious and diverse food options for all students regardless of ability to pay. Federal funding of $79 million flowed to the provinces and programs in the first year of the government's National School Food Program, but those funds were quickly used up. As noted by the Coalition for Healthy School Food, not all provinces are contributing in the same way towards school food programs to date. In Saskatchewan and Ontario, school food is severely underfunded relative to other provinces and territories. Saskatchewan and Ontario's per capita investments are four times lower than the national median of 63 cents per student per day: Nova Scotia contributes $3.30 whereas Saskatchewan and Ontario are at the bottom of the pack at three and nine cents per student per day respectively. That's based on an annual average of 190 school days per year across Canada. Without significant funding increases from those provincial governments, none of the hopes and dreams for a National School Food Program in Saskatchewan and Ontario will come to fruition. While the need for more funding is paramount, there are also logistical issues to tackle. Without commercial-grade kitchens in elementary schools, some survey respondents suggested centralized food preparation models by upgrading existing neighbourhood or high school infrastructure, from which meals could be distributed to local schools. Read more: What needs to happen next for Canada to have a successful school food program Others were in favour of contracting local food businesses as providers. A few parents raised the concern that school boards might contract large food conglomerates, resulting in a situation where corporate profit compromises food quality. Teachers voiced the need for adequate staffing and volunteer support so as not to unduly burden school staff. Some parents and teachers felt strongly about minimizing packaging waste. As one teacher stated: "I would be concerned about the environmental impact, going from trying to conserve and be mindful of what we use, like reusable containers, to a disposable model ... I think it would send a poor message to kids who we're asking to protect their environment." The topic of how much time students have to eat arose frequently in discussions. In Ontario, many schools at the elementary level adhere to a two-break or balanced day model, where students have a "nutrition break" in the morning with recess, and another in early afternoon (instead of two short recesses and a mid-day window for lunch/recess). This may be a reason why parents and some teachers say that kids don't have enough time to eat. In addition to logistical operations and accessibility, parents and teachers voiced the need to consider social and cultural diversity and inclusion. They noted the diversity of student dietary requirements and preferences - from food allergies/intolerances and cultural and religious foods to concerns about what respondents referred to as their "picky eaters." Teachers pointed out that halal and/or vegetarian foods must be made available. The oversight of food safety and offering a diversity of healthy food choices was mentioned repeatedly by parents. Meals and ingredients could be posted in weekly or monthly menus - like they are in in France, for example - to ensure students and their families are aware of what is being served. There was enthusiasm for exposing kids to culturally diverse menu options that would make students from all backgrounds feel included and welcome. While some parents were concerned that their kids might not eat foods they're unfamiliar with, others thought it would be great to expose them to new foods that they might eat at school even if they wouldn't at home. Some parents were excited about the prospect of community involvement, including volunteers but also students in food prep, distribution and cleanup. Beyond the school community, some proposed fostering partnerships with local farms, community gardens and local food providers. In sum, participants voiced the need for flexible programs that could be tailored to specific school, family and community needs - with clear communication with all families and school staff about the school food programs' goals and operations. We have a tremendous need and opportunity in Canada to strengthen our food system and food security with the National School Food Program. We have just begun this project with the commitment of some federal, provincial and municipal funding, but there is much more work to do in developing school food programs in each part of the country. The continued food affordability crisis and the threat of tariffs by the United States make it clear how important these programs are. No matter how these programs end up evolving, parents and teachers in Hamilton and Peel Region have clearly voiced their desire for equity - school food program accessibility, regardless of family income. They also want to see food offerings meeting students' diverse dietary requirements, and the inclusion of student, family, educator and local community partners.
