Concussion Awareness and Safety
Playing sports can be a fun and rewarding experience for your child. Not only do sports offer the opportunity for your child to develop…
By Lisa A. Lewis
Playing sports can be a fun and rewarding experience for your child. Not only do sports offer the opportunity for your child to develop his or her athletic prowess, but they also encourage him or her to work as part of a team, practice good sportsmanship and acquire leadership skills. And since there is a wide variety of sports—from football to basketball to lacrosse—your child can easily find an activity he or she enjoys. Clearly, sports offer many benefits; however, there is a serious issue that can’t be overlooked: sports-related injuries. You want your child to have fun, but it’s only natural to worry about his or her safety. After all, there is a risk of injury with all sports. Although any sports-related injury is cause for concern, perhaps one of the most serious injuries is a concussion.
According to the National Institutes of Health, an estimated 38 million children and adolescents participate in organized sports, and each year, more than 3.5 million children 14 years old and under receive medical treatment for sports injuries. In addition, Safe Kids USA reports that injuries associated with participation in sports and recreational activities account for 21 percent of all traumatic brain injuries among children in the United States.
Although the thought of your son or daughter getting a concussion is frightening, you can take steps to reduce the risk of injury. By educating yourself about the sport your child plays and learning the signs and symptoms of a concussion, you can help ensure that he or she has a safe experience on the playing field.
Get Involved
As a parent, you’re the best advocate for your child, so be proactive. There are several guidelines you can follow to protect your son or daughter from sports-related injuries, including concussions. Before you enroll your child in any athletic activity, make sure he or she has a complete physical examination to determine if he or she is healthy enough to play sports. Since all sports require protective equipment, such as helmets, shoulder pads, shin guards, goggles and mouth guards, familiarize yourself with the equipment and its proper use. And feel free to talk to the coach and ask questions about the sport.
“I also recommend that you watch your child at practice and games,” says Brian Boyd, athletic director at The Key School. “This gives you an opportunity to see the contact involved and gauge how your child reacts to it. If a child is tentative or afraid to get into the action, he or she is more likely to get hurt. So talk to your child about his or her comfort with the sport. Safety should always come first. Your child should enjoy the sport and have a great time playing it.”
If you’re worried about the amount of contact involved, you’re not alone. Some parents are concerned about girls’ lacrosse, and the safety of the sport has become an issue of debate. Unlike boys’ lacrosse, girls’ lacrosse doesn’t involve contact, and the players don’t wear helmets—only goggles. Some parents have suggested that helmets should be added to girls’ lacrosse to ensure the players’ safety.
“I understand parents’ concern, but it’s a difficult call to make,” says Boyd. “If you add helmets, the dynamic of the game will change, and it will become a contact sport. Changing the rules of the sport may actually put players at greater risk of injury. In my opinion, coaching is key. Coaches need to teach players the correct way to play the game and make sure they follow the rules. Then players won’t be as likely to get hurt.”
Educate Yourself
According to the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC), a concussion is a type of traumatic brain injury caused by a bump or blow to the head that can change the way the brain normally functions. Concussions are usually not life-threatening, but their effects can be serious. Although the signs and symptoms of a concussion may occur immediately after an injury, in some cases, symptoms may not appear for days or weeks. So be vigilant and know your child. Pay attention to his or her behavior, so you’ll notice any changes.
“I strongly feel that inappropriate technique causes the majority of concussions in younger athletes,” says Yvette Rooks, M.D., C.A.Q., F.A.A.F.P., family medicine physician and sports medicine specialist at the University of Maryland Medical Center. “As they’re learning their sport, they do things wrong and end up with injuries. As they mature, and competition gets greater, the increase in concussions likely comes from the aggressive play.”
Each sport is different, but you can take precautions to help prevent your child from getting a concussion. Make sure your child follows the coach’s rules for safety and the rules of the sport, and encourage him or her to practice good sportsmanship. Check your child’s equipment; it should fit properly and be well maintained. And educate yourself about the signs and symptoms of a concussion. Keep in mind, however, that you can’t always prevent an injury; accidents happen. So be prepared and know how to respond if your son or daughter does get a concussion.
Signs and Symptoms
If your child suffers a blow to the head during a game or practice, Rooks says he or she may appear dazed or stunned, seem confused or unable to remember a play or assignment, forget instructions, move clumsily, lose consciousness, show behavior or personality changes or have difficulty remembering events prior to or after the injury. He or she may also experience the following symptoms: headache, nausea or vomiting, balance problems or dizziness, changes in vision, sensitivity to light or sound, confusion or a sense of “just not feeling right.”
If you notice any of these signs or symptoms of a concussion, act immediately. Even if your child insists he or she is fine, don’t minimize the situation. Remove your son or daughter from play and seek medical attention. A health care professional who has experience evaluating concussions can assess your child’s condition and determine the seriousness of the injury.
Since concussions take time to heal, keep your child out of play until all symptoms are resolved and he or she is cleared by a health care professional to return to sports. Your son or daughter should never play sports while experiencing signs or symptoms of a concussion. Make sure your child understands the seriousness of the injury and the potential dangers associated with re-injury. Returning to play before the brain has healed can put him or her at greater risk for a second concussion and possible permanent brain damage.
Inform the coach about any recent concussion your son or daughter has experienced. Since rest is essential during recovery, monitor your child’s activities closely to avoid overexertion. And once he or she returns to play, Rooks says it’s important for your child to report any changes in the way he or she feels during practice or games.
“You cannot ‘see’ a concussion, so many parents don’t realize what the injury is,” says Rooks. “Now, with more information and increased awareness in elementary through high school, there is more concern, and parents appreciate the seriousness of the situation. [Health care professionals] are more aware and are diagnosing [concussions] more. But players must be educated as well because they want to play and may often ‘stretch the truth’ to get back on the playing field.”
“Awareness about concussions has definitely increased,” adds Boyd. “We know the signs and symptoms, and we’re trained to look for them. When a child gets a head injury, athletic trainers assess the condition immediately and monitor the player constantly.”
Consider Baseline Concussion Testing
The Safe Concussion Outcome, Recovery & Education (SCORE) Program of Children’s National Medical Center offers education for parents, coaches and student athletes on concussion safety and provides baseline cognitive testing for student athletes to assess key areas of brain function, including memory, speed of information processing and reaction time. This information is used in the event of a concussion to help treat the injury.
“Awareness of concussions and their potential dangers and risks is essential for parents, coaches and student athletes,” says Gerard A. Gioia, Ph.D., chief, Division of Pediatric Neuropsychology; director, SCORE Program, Children’s National Medical Center. “Assessing the student athletes’ ‘baseline’ (pre-injury) level of cognitive function is one important piece, together with appropriate knowledge of the injury, in their management. Importantly, though, baseline neuropsychological testing must be conducted and supervised by properly trained personnel with effective procedures in place for recognition of concussions on the field and post-injury medical follow up services. Each of these components is necessary to safeguard our youth.”
“Sports are a great experience for students,” says Boyd. “Competition drives working toward a common goal and encourages students to show what they can do as a team. Sports also reinforce school pride and morale. The entire school can rally around the teams. I encourage all students to choose a sport they love, take the necessary safety precautions and have fun.”
