Concussion Facts for Youth Sport Parents
Please read prior to registering your child or teen
What is a Concussion? A concussion is a type of traumatic brain injury or TBI caused by a bump, blow, or jolt to the head or by a hit to the body that causes the head and brain to move quickly back and forth. This fast movement can cause the brain to bounce around or twist in the skull, creating chemical changes in the brain and sometimes stretching and damaging brain cells.
How can I help keep my children or teens safe? Sports are a great way for children and teens to stay healthy and can help them do well in school. To help lower your children's or teens' chances of getting a concussion or other serious brain injury, you should:
• Help create a culture of safety for the team:
Work with the coach to teach ways to lower the chance of getting a concussion.
Emphasize the importance of reporting concussion and taking time to recover from one.
Ensure that they follow their coach's rules for safety and the rules of the sport.
Tell your children or teens that you expect them to practice good sportsmanship at all times.
• When appropriate for the sport or activity, teach your children or teens that they must wear a helmet to lower the chances of the most serious types of brain or head injury. There is no "concussion-proof" helmet. Even with a helmet, it is important for children and teens to avoid hits to the head.
How can I spot a possible concussion? Children and teens who show or report one or more of the signs and symptoms listed below or simply say they just "don't feel right" after a bump, blow, or jolt to the head or body, may have a concussion or other serious brain injury.
Signs Observed by Parents:
• Appears dazed or stunned.
• forgets an instruction, is confused about an assignment or position, or is unsure of the game, score, or opponent.
• Moves clumsily.
• Answers questions slowly.
• Loses consciousness (even briefly).
• Shows mood, behavior, or personality changes.
• Can't recall events prior to or after a hit or fall.
Symptoms reported by children and teens.
• Headache or "pressure" in the head.
• Nausea or vomiting.
• Balance problems or dizziness, or double or blurry vision.
• Bothered by light or noise.
• Feeling sluggish, hazy, foggy, or groggy.
• Confusion, or concentration or memory problems.
• Just not " felling right," or " feeling down."
Talk with your children and teens about concussions. Tell them to report their concussion symptoms to you and their coach right away. Some children and teens think concussions aren't serious or worry that if they report a concussion they will lose their position on a team or look weak. Remind them that it's better to miss one game than the whole season.
What area some more serious danger signs to look out for? In rare cases, a dangerous collection of blood (hematoma) may form on the brain after a bump, blow, or jolt to the head or body and can squeeze the brain against the skull. Call 9-1-1 or take your child or teen to the emergency department right away if, after a bump, blow, or jolt to the head or body, he or she has one or more danger signs
• One pupil larger than the other.
• drowsiness or inability to wake up.
• a headache that gets worse and does not go away.
• slurred speech, weakness, numbness, restlessness, or agitation.
• loss of consciousness (passed out/knocked out). Even a brief loss of consciousness should be taken seriously.
What should I do if my child or teen has a possible concussion? As a parent, if you think that your child or teen may have a concussion, you should
1. Remove your child or teen from play.
2. Keep your child or teen out of play the day of the injury. Your child or teen should be seen by a health care provider and only return to play with permission from a health care provider who is experienced in evaluating for concussion.
3. Ask your child's or teen's health care provider for written instructions on helping your child or teen return to school. You can give the instructions to your child's or teen's school nurse and teacher(s) and return-to-play instructions to the coach and/or athletic trainer.
Do not try to judge the severity of the injury yourself. Only a health care provider should access a child or teen for a possible concussion. You may not know how serious the concussion is at first, and some symptoms may not show up for hours or days. A child's or teen's return to school and sports should be a gradual process that is carefully managed and monitored by a health care provider.
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