Concussions in Youth Sports

The ParentsJames Cocivera

What is a Concussion? Brain injury Moves, hits inner skull wall Brain function affected briefly

??

Are Concussions Serious? Every concussion is serious Could be life threating if untreated Symptoms may not occur instantly You don’t need to lose consciousness to have one

What are the effects of a concussion? Depends on the force of the blow Common symptoms are

Headache Amnesia Confusion

Symptoms can occur hours later

How do I know I need to see a doctor? Must go to emergency room if following symptoms occur

Vomiting Headaches worsen Dizziness occurring often Slurred speech Stumbling or clumsiness And many more

Go to the emergency room if your child shows any of these symptoms

Can having a concussion effect my child's entire life? Yes we are dealing with the brain. Three complications can occur according to the CDC (Center

for Disease Control) Epilepsy Sustain multiple head injuries effect cognitive function and

mobility Second Impact Syndrome

Second Impact Syndrome Athlete returns too soon Second blow to the head occurs Head not healed from first concussion Causes irreversible damage or DEATH

Video of Second Impact Syndrome https://

www.youtube.com/watch?feature=player_detailpage&v=Ai5AXF7XKw8

Statistics

50% of second impact syndrome results in death 15.8% of high school football players who loss

consciousness due to a concussion returned to the same game

Concussion rates more than doubled among students age 8-19 participating in sports like basketball, soccer and football between 1997-2007, even as participation in those sports declined.

Statistics

A 2011 study of U.S. high schools with at least one athletic trainer on staff found that concussions accounted for nearly 15% of all sports related injuries reported to athletic trainers.

Injuries associated with participation in sports and recreational activities account for 21% of all traumatic brain injuries among children in the United States

Areas to look at as a coach

What to look for as a coach

Unsure of game, score, or opponent

Appear dazed or confused

Loses consciousness

Can’t recall events prior to

hit or fall

Areas to look at as the player

What players would say they feel.• I have a headache or

pressure in my head• They have vomited • Balance problems• Don’t feel right

Best ways to prevent a concussion Educate the players and their parents about concussions Promote safety as the number on priority Can not return to contact sport without a doctors permission

to do so Reiterate not ok to go back in the game when they sustain

this injury

What do you do if you think your player sustained a concussion Remove the player immediately from the game Have the player evaluated by an appropriate healthcare

professional Inform the parents about the player and type of injury Player can return after a healthcare professional specialized

in concussions approves soPlayers safety comes first!!

Proper equipment for the athletes As coaches make sure all head gear are fitted correctly Make sure the equipment is appropriate for that position Up-to-date equipment

Proper way to fit a helmet Improper helmet is too big

Technique, Technique, Technique It is imperative that you teach proper form in any contact

sports The right way to tackle Hip check Slide and more https://www.youtube.com/tv?vq=medium#/

watch?v=JRvBqwHJo8Q&mode=transport

First hand interview about concussions http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=yIqZDbk3M40 If you think you have a concussion tell your coach do not

hide it and try to fight it Your life is in your hands

Important place for information The CDC has a great program called “Heads Up

Concussions in Youth Sports” They have an abundant amount of information Have fact sheets that you can hand out to parents As a Pop Warner coach I am certified that I passed their

concussion test program.

Remember… Every concussion should be treated seriously Life threatening Educate the children and adults Proper technique and equipment

References http://www.cdc.gov/concussion/pdf/coaches_Engl.pdf http://www.concussiontreatment.com/concussionfacts.html http://

www.mayoclinic.com/health/concussion/DS00320/DSECTION=tests-and-diagnosis

http://preventingconcussions.org/index.php/prevention_tips http://www.sportsmd.com/articles/id/38.aspx http://www.swata.org/statistics/