Fall 2006
 

A Guide to Concussion
for Parents and Young Athletes

Having your bell rung. Getting dinged. Seeing stars.
We minimize concussions -- and we shouldn’t

What is a concussion? A concussion is a brain injury caused by a blow to the head. Concussions are most common in football, ice hockey, and soccer, but occur in many other sports as well. Athletes of all ages suffer concussions.

How serious is a concussion?
Concussions are more serious in young athletes than in adults. The effects of a concussion vary from child to child. Some result in minor, temporary effects. Others cause permanent disability and even death. It is very important to get proper care for a young athlete who has received a concussion.

Is it true that a concussion is serious only if it causes unconsciousness?
No. A person – child or adult -- can have a serious brain injury and never lose consciousness.

Your child has been sidelined following a hit. How worried should you be?
Be concerned if your young athlete doesn’t remember what happened just before or after the hit, seems confused, or cannot answer questions like “Who are we playing tonight? What play were you running? Who scored last? Can you name the months in reverse order? Count backward from 100 by sevens?”

You are a young athlete who has just taken a blow to the head. What symptoms should you tell your coach or parent about right away?

As a parent, what should you do on the sidelines if concussion is a possibility?
Don’t let your youngster return to play. Get immediate medical attention if your youngster is unconscious for more than 5 minutes, or has severe symptoms. Assess your child’s symptoms every 5-10 minutes. If they are getting worse, or continue for 30 minutes, get medical attention. Remember that you are responsible for safeguarding your child’s health. Sometimes this will require stepping in to take your child out of a game.

What should you as a parent do if concussion is confirmed? Give your child’s brain time to heal. Follow your primary care provider’s guidance, and monitor your young athlete carefully. Insist that return to play follows a gradual process that is overseen by your family health care provider. Seek medical attention if symptoms worsen. What is second-impact syndrome? This syndrome has been reported in young athletes who suffer a second concussion before an earlier concussion has

What symptoms may appear over time?
Symptoms of concussion that can develop over time include difficulty with:

A young athlete should not return to play until these symptoms are gone.

How soon can your youngster return to play following concussion?
Returning too soon can place a young athlete at real risk. It is important that return to play be gradual and carefully monitored. A young athlete should not return until free of symptoms for 24 hours. Then:

If at any point symptoms reappear, stop all activity. When the athlete has been free of all symptoms for 24 hours, begin the process again at a point one step before where the child was when symptoms recurred.

Should you tell coaches about past concussions? Your health care providers?
Be sure to tell coaches if your child has ever had a concussion. That way, they can help your youngster avoid additional injury by providing appropriate safety gear and coaching the team in playing by the rules. You should also tell your family’s health care providers about any previous concussion, so that they can provide appropriate care and guidance to you and your child.