Generally speaking, a concussion is a bump, blow or jolt to the head. The two most common symptoms of a consussion are confusion and amnesia. Other symptoms can include headache, ringing in ears, vomiting, slurred speech, or fatigue. If you have been hit in the head and have any of these symptoms you should contact your healthcare provider immediately. (more)
Concussions can occur in sports or recreational activity. The Rhode Island Traumatic Brain Injury Registry shows that sports-related injuries are one of the primary causes of TBIs in school-aged children. (more) Athletes who return to play before they are cleared by a physician could risk serious or permanent injury. (more)
In an effort to increase awareness about sports-related concussions, the law requires all school coaches, paid and volunteer, to take concussion-awareness training. The training is available free online and takes about 30 minutes to complete. A certificate is given upon successful completion of the training. (more) Under this law, coaches must remove any player from a game or practice who exhibits signs or symptoms of a concussion, and that player must obtain written medical authorization by a licensed physician before being allowed to return to play. Supplemental educational and training materials are available for school districts at “Heads Up: Concussion in High School Sports/Concussion in Youth Sports Program”. The Rhode Island Department of Elementary and Secondary Education (RIDE) and the Rhode Island Interscholastic League are partnering with the Department of Health to draft implementation guidelines for schools. Questions or concerns about implementation should be directed to school administrators.