Concussion Policy
What is a concussion?
A concussion is a brain injury. Concussions are caused by a bump or blow to the head. What seems to be a mild bump or blow to the head can be serious. You can’t see a concussion. Signs and symptoms of concussion can show up right after the injury or may not appear or be noticed until days or weeks after the injury. If your child reports any symptoms of concussion, or if you notice the symptoms yourself, seek medical attention right away.
What are the signs and symptoms of a concussion?
Signs Observed by Parents or Guardians
If your child has experienced a bump or blow to the head during a game or practice, look for any of the following signs and symptoms of a concussion:
- Appears dazed or stunned
- Is confused about assignment or position
- Forgets an instruction
- Is unsure of game, score, or opponent
- Moves clumsily
- Answers questions slowly
- Loses consciousness (even briefly)
- Shows behavior or personality changes
- Can’t recall events prior to or after hit or fall
Symptoms Reported by Athlete
- Headache or “pressure” in head
- Nausea or vomiting
- Balance problems or dizziness
- Double or blurry vision
- Sensitivity to light
- Sensitivity to noise
- Feeling sluggish, hazy, foggy, or groggy
- Concentration or memory problems
- Does not “feel right”
How can you help your child prevent a concussion?
There are steps your children can take to protect themselves from concussion.
- Ensure that they follow their coach’s rules for safety and the rules of the sport.
- Encourage them to practice good sportsmanship at all times.
- Make sure they wear the right protective equipment for their activity (such as helmets, padding, and eye and mouth guards). Protective equipment should fit properly, be well maintained, and be worn consistently and correctly.
What should you do if you think your child has a concussion?
- Seek medical attention right away. A health care professional will be able to decide how serious the concussion is and when it is safe for your child to return to sports.
- Keep your child out of play. Concussions take time to heal. Don’t let your child return to play until a heath care professional says it’s OK. Children who return to play too soon–while the brain is still healing–risk a greater chance of having a second concussion. Second or later concussions can be very serious. They can cause permanent damage, affecting your child for a lifetime.
- Tell your child’s coach about any recent concussion. Coaches should know if your child had a recent concussion in ANY sport. Your child’s coach may not know about a concussion your child received in another sport or activity unless you tell the coach.
What is the procedure for a suspected concussion?
- Any athlete who is suspected of sustaining a concussion or head injury in a practice or game shall be removed from the activity at that time and for the remainder of the day.
- Any athlete who has been removed may not return to play until the athlete is evaluated by a licensed health care provider trained in the evaluation and management of concussion and has received a written clearance to return to play from the health care provider.
New Providence PAL Policy
The New Providence PAL policy is always to put our children’s safety first. Our PAL coaches have limited medical training, and therefore may not identify the signs and symptoms of a concussion. If there is a suspicion of a head injury, the child will be immediately removed from the activity and parents advised of the situation. The parents will be responsible to have the child cleared by a healthcare professional and to allow their child to return to a PAL activity