#FreeHighSchoolSickleCellTraitTests

Young athletes with Sickle Cell Trait. Gone too soon:

Kourtni Livingston, 14; Karson Cross, 14; Olivier Louis, 15; Jamelle Johnson, 11; Jamel S. Foster, 17; Bobby Stephens Jr., 12; Isaiah Laurencin, 16...and counting...

Sickle Cell Trait (SCT) can kill. It takes the lives of young athletes every year.

A simple blood test along with supplimental SCT education for coaches & student-athlets can prevent these deaths.

Risk factors for death include exertion, dehydration and low oxygen. Hydration is important for ALL people - especially those with SCT who are athletes.

SCT is a genetic trait that can be found in people of African, Indian, Asian, Mediterranean, Latin, Turkish, Italian and Greek descent.

So, it doesn't just effect African-Americans.

The majority of the 4 million people in the U.S. with SCT don't even know they have it.

The National Collegiate Athletic Association (NCAA) mandates SCT testing for all student-athletes. But, high-schoolers have died due to exertion & dehydration complicated by SCT and need to be tested early.

Research says student-athletes don't mind the SCT testing. They also want the much needed SCT education.

OPERATION HYDRATION - a SCT education program -is set to offer FREE SCT testing to high schools this Fall. All it takes is $10 within ten minutes for a student-athlete to know his/her SCT status. How many student-athletes will you cover?