Concussions in Student Athletes

Posted in Brain injuries,Uncategorized on September 14, 2017

With school being back in session for students of all ages, fall sports are in full swing. Sport-related concussions will be on the rise over the next couple of months. A concussion is a mild traumatic brain injury (or TBI). Concussions are typically caused by a direct blow to the head or neck. There are over 300,000 sports-related concussions in the United States each year with female athletes being more prone to suffer from a concussion. Symptoms normally appear within minutes of the incident, but some symptoms may take hours, or longer.

Symptoms Include:

• Balance difficulties
• Nausea/vomiting
• Headache
• Loss of consciousness
• Difficulty remembering
• Behavioral changes
• Blurred or double vision
• Slurred speech
• Excessive drowsiness

If You Suspect a Concussion:

• Do not allow the athlete to return to play.
• Avoid pain relievers, they can increase the risk of a brain bleed.
• Do not leave an athlete alone that may have a concussion.
• The athlete needs to rest until no further symptoms exist.

Participation in athletics plays a big role in social development, and responsibility in students, but safety always needs to be priority.