140 likes | 373 Views
Management of Concussion For Coaches & Officials In High School Athletics. Michele C. Benz, ATC, LAT, CSCS, HFS. What is my role and what are my responsibilities surrounding concussion?. Ensure safe participation of all athletes.
E N D
Management of Concussion For Coaches & Officials InHigh School Athletics Michele C. Benz, ATC, LAT, CSCS, HFS
What is my role and what are my responsibilities surrounding concussion? • Ensure safe participation of all athletes. • Learn to recognize the signs and symptoms (S/S) of concussion. • Remove any athlete showing S/S of concussion from participation. • Know the new return to play (RTP) guidelines established by the National Federation of High School Associations (NFHS), 2010 and Zurich Conference, 2008. • Support concussion awareness and a Second Impact Syndrome (SIS) prevention program at your school.
What Is a Concussion? BRAIN DAMAGE!!!!! Bruised Brain Bell Rung Ding Jacked Up When In Doubt, Sit Them Out!
Facts About Concussion 1.2 Million Youth Concussions Per Year 50% FB Players Have Sustained A Concussion 35% Suffered Multiple Concussions 80% Symptoms Worsen Over Weeks 50% Return To Play Too Soon 70% Would RTP Concussed 41% Would Not Leave A Game 50 H.S. Football Players Have Died Since 97 “It’s not dangerous to play with a concussion,” said Kelby Jasmon, a senior two-way player for his high school in Springfield, Ill., who has had three concussions. “You’ve got to sacrifice for the sake of the team. The only way I come out is on a stretcher.”
NFHS Rule Changes • INDIANAPOLIS, IN (March 4, 2010) — Effective with the 2010 high school football season, any player who shows signs, symptoms or behaviors associated with a concussion must be removed from the game and shall not return to play until cleared by an appropriate health-care professional. • The previous rule directed officials to remove an athlete from play if “unconscious or apparently unconscious.” The previous rule also allowed for return to play based on written authorization by a medical doctor. Now, in the absence of a medical staff (ATC, MD) officials are charged with removing any player who shows signs, symptoms or behaviors consistent with a concussion, such as loss of consciousness, headache, dizziness, confusion or balance problems, and shall not return to play until cleared by an appropriate health-care professional.
How To Recognize Signs and Symptoms of Concussion • Athlete stumbles after getting up • Shakes head in attempt to “shake it off” • Goes to wrong huddle • Takes a knee or bent over in huddle • Vacant stare-eyes does not have focal point • Runs the wrong play-possibly more than once • Film Review • Complains or shows typical signs: • Headache, • Bothered by light • Personality change • Eyes don’t focus or follow
Second Impact Syndrome (SIS) • Second concussion before previous concussion has completely resolved • Metabolic volcano within the brain • High school athletes at great risk • Catastrophic brain injury or death Second Impact Syndrome is PREVENTABLE
Prevention SIS PREVENTION PROGRAM • Coaches must encourage athletes to report signs • Promote Baseline Testing • Concussion Awareness Videos • Helmets fit by the athletic trainer • Officials & Coaches need to recognize signs • Officials should make coaches and athletic trainers aware of an athlete who looks concussed • Encourage rest until ALL signs resolve • Stop head first tackling Second Impact is PREVENTABLE
What To Expect • Athlete removed from play • Sideline evaluation • Communication with ATC • Doctor referral • ImPACT post-injury test • Graduated RTP • Close observation after RTP • Fear from athlete/parent • Athletes need for confidence • Not the same intensity at first • Possibility of re-occurrence
Football is an incredible game. Sometimes it's so incredible, it's unbelievable.-Tom Landry Teach Them How To Have FUN & Play Safe
I firmly believe that any man's finest hour, the greatest fulfillment of all that he holds dear, is that moment when he has worked his heart out in a good cause and lies exhausted on the field of battle - victorious. -Vince Lombardi Play Tough, Play Hard, Play With Heart, But Don’t Play With Concussion