Nationwide Children's Hospital Sports Medicine wants you to be aware of concussions and the potential dangers to athletes in any sport. Safety begins by educating yourself!
A concussion is an invisible injury that temporarily changes how the brain works. A concussion may be caused by a blow, bump or jolt to the head or by any fall or hit that jars the brain. While a blow to the head may not seem like a big deal, concussion symptoms can develop upon impact or up to two days after the incident.
WRONG! Ninety percent of concussions do NOT involve being "knocked out." Every concussion is serious because every concussion is a brain injury.
If you've suffered a blow to the head or a hard, jarring impact to your body, ask yourself these questions:
If you can answer YES to any of these questions - even one - then you need to protect yourself by taking the steps in the rest of this article.
YES! If you play through a concussion, you are putting yourself at risk for Second Impact Syndrome. If you get hit in the head again before your first concussion heals, you could collapse and end up with brain damage, in a wheelchair or dead. No game or practice is worth the chance of dying.
You have to wait until your symptoms go away completely, you can complete your schoolwork, AND a healthcare professional (like a doctor or an athletic trainer) says it is okay for you to start participating in physical activity.
You will need to complete the gradual Return-to Play Progression. This progression is important and should not be skipped. If your symptoms come back during the progression, then you are not ready to return without putting yourself in danger.
We know waiting to get better is boring. Many athletes feel pressured to say they do not have symptoms when they still do. This is very dangerous and could result in serious consequences. Be honest and protect yourself and your brain.
The best treatment for a concussion is REST.
If you are able to attend school, some concussion symptoms may affect your ability to do well in class. Therefore, you should tell your teachers about your concussion right away.
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