What Is A Concussion?

Size: px

Start display at page:

Download "What Is A Concussion?"

Steven Stanley
5 years ago
Views:

Symptoms may appear right after the injury, or may take hours or days to fully appear.

2 What Is A Concussion? A concussion is a brain injury, and all brain injuries are serious. Concussions can range from mild to severe, and they can change the way your brain normally functions. Symptoms may appear right after the injury, or may take hours or days to fully appear. If your student-athlete reports any symptoms of concussion, or if you notice the signs or symptoms of concussion yourself, seek medical attention right away.

3 Symptoms of Concussion 0 Headache or pressure in head 0 Sleep disturbance 0 Nausea or vomiting 0 Balance problems or dizziness 0 Sensitivity to light and noise 0 Double or blurry vision 0 Feeling slowed down, foggy, or hazy 0 Feeling irritable, anxious, nervous, sad more emotional than usual 0 Don t feel right, feel off, feel down 0 Repeating the same comment/question 0 Feeling fatigued or run down 0 Concentration or memory problems 0 Confusion

4 Signs of Concussion 0 Appears dazed, stunned or disoriented 0 Loss of consciousness 0 Blank stare or vacant look 0 Is confused about assignment, position, or plays 0 Responds to questions slowly or incorrectly 0 Slurred speech 0 Displays mood, behavior, or personality changes 0 Can t recall events prior to hit or fall 0 Can t recall events after hit or fall 0 Stumbles or appears uncoordinated 0 Red Flags 0 Decreasing LOC 0 Increasing confusion and irritability 0 Loss of or fluctuating LOC 0 Numbness in arms or legs 0 Pupils unequal in size 0 Repeated vomiting 0 Seizures 0 Slurred speech or inability to speak 0 Inability to recognize people or places 0 Worsening headache

5 Do not hide symptoms Remove the student-athlete from play Notify coaches, athletic trainers, nurses, and necessary school staff Seek medical attention from a medical professional Make sure to report any previous or present concussion symptoms What To Do Give yourself time to rest and allow your brain to heal Avoid physical activity until obtaining medical clearance from the physician Once the student-athlete has received medical clearance from the physician, s/he will perform a Return-To-Play protocol under the supervision of a Certified Athletic Trainer

6 Returning Following Concussion 0The athletic trainer will return student-athletes to practice and play only with: Written medical authorization from the student-athlete s physician verifying that it is safe for the student-athlete to return to play in the student-athlete s specific sport Consultation with the school nurse to ensure consistency between academic and athletic handling of the student-athlete s follow up care Completion of the Return-To-Play protocol (RTP), under the direct supervision of the Certified Athletic Trainer.

7 Return-To-Play Progression 0 Example of Return-To-Play Progression Protocol: 0 Step 1 Fast walk/stationary bike work out for minutes 0 Step 2 Jogging/running for 20 minutes 0 Step 3 Non-contact sport related drills and conditioning 0 Step 4 Full participation in practice without contact 0 Step 5 Full practice participation 0 Step 6 Return to game play 0 Note: If the athlete experiences post concussion symptoms during any phase, the athlete should drop back to the previous level and resume the progression after 24 hours.

8 ImPACT ImPACT's Test is computerized and takes about 45 minutes to complete. ImPACT does not diagnose a concussion. It s not an IQ test. Tests brain function. Results are compared from baseline test to post-concussion test.

9 Testing Times and Location Day Date Time Location Team Friday 8/10/2018 8:30AM 8:30AM 9:30AM Football Boys X Country Girls X Country Wednesday 8/22/ :30AM Room 110 Volleyball 11:30AM Swimming 1PM Boys Soccer 2PM Girls Soccer Thursday 8/23/2018 8:30AM By Appt only

10 Sudden Cardiac Arrest SCA happens when the heart goes into abnormal rhythm or stops beating, suddenly and unexpectedly; it s not a heart attack WARNING SIGNS OF HEART CONDITION: 1. Fainting or seizure activity during or after physical activity 2. Fainting or seizure resulting from emotional excitement, emotional distress or being startled 3. Chest pain or discomfort/racing heartbeat 4. Unexplained fainting or seizures 5. Unusual shortness of breath 6. Unusual fatigue/tiredness 7. Dizziness/lightheadedness during or after physical activity

11 SCA Chain of Survival Ensure the athlete is removed from play and that emergency care is implemented immediately! Early recognition Collapsed and unresponsive Gasping, gurgling, snorting, moaning, or labored breathing noises Seizure-like activity Early Access to Early CPR Early Defibrillation Early Advanced Care

It s better to miss one game than the whole season. What should I do if I think I have a concussion? Concussion facts:

It s better to miss one game than the whole season. What should I do if I think I have a concussion? Concussion facts: Concussion facts: A concussion is a brain injury that affects how your brain works. A concussion is caused by a bump, blow, or jolt to the head or body. A concussion can happen even if you haven t been