FACT
CONCUSSION SHEET ATHLETES
FOR
What is a concussion?
A c onc us s ion a b ra i ni n j u ryth a t:
is
. ls c au s e d y a b u mp ,b l o w ,o r j o l t to the heador body
b
. Canc h a n g e e w a y y o u r b ra i nn o rmal l y orks
th w
' s
c an occ u rd u ri n gp ra c ti c e o r g a me sin anysportor recreati onal vi ty acti
. Canha p p e ne v e n i f y o u h a v e n ' tb e e nknocked out
. Canbe s e ri o u s v e ni f y o u ' v ej u s t b e e n" di nged,,or.,had
e your bel lrung,,
A ll c onc us s io na re s e ri o u s . A c o n c u s s i o n a n affectyour abi l i tyto do school w ork
s c (su
and other acti vi ti es chas playr ng
v ideogam es , o rk i n go n a c o m p u te r, tu d y i n g, vi ng, exerci si ng).
w s dri or Most peopl ew i th a concussi on be t t er ,but it is
get
im por t antt o gi v ey o u r b ra i nti me to h e a l .
Whqt ore the symptoms of a concussion?
Y ou c an' t s eea c o n c u s s i o n ,u t y o u mi g h t n o t i ceone or more of the symptoms i stedbel owor that you " do n't f ell r ight , ,
b l
soon after, a few daysafter, or even weeksafter the injury.
. Head a c h e r " p re s s u re i"n h e a d
o
. Nause a r v o m i ti n g
o
. p
B alan c e ro b l e ms r d i z z i n e s s
o
. Doub l e r b l u rryv i s i o n
o
. B ot he re d y l i g h to r n o i s e
b
. Feeling sluggish, hazy,foggy, groggyor
. Difficultypayingattention
. M em o ryp ro b l e ms
. Confusion
What should I do if I think I have a concussion?
' Tell your coachesand your parents. Neverignorea bump or blow to the head even if you feel fine. Also,tell
y our c o a c hri g h ta w a y i f y o u th i n k y o u havea concussi on i f one of your teammates ghthavea co ncussion.
or mi
' Get a medicalcheck-up.A doctor or other healthcareprofessional tell if you havea concussion when it
can and
is OKto return to play.
' Give yourself time to get better. lf you have a concussion, your brain needstime to heal. While your brain is
s t ill he a l i n gy o u a re mu c h mo re l i k e l yto haveanotherconcussi on. epeat
, R concussi ons i ncreasehe t im e r t
can t
t ak esf o r y o u to re c o v e r n d m a y c a u se
a more damage your brai n. l t i s i mportant restand not ret ur nt o pt ay
to to
until you 8et the OKfrom your healthcareprofessional that you are symptom-free.
How can I prevent a concussion?
Everysport is different,but there are stepsyou can taketo protectyourself.
' Us et he p ro p e rs p o rtse q u i p me n t, n cl udi ng
i personal protecti ve
equi pment. In order for equi pme nt o pr ot ect
t
y ou, it mu s t b e :
- T h e ri g h te q u i p me n fo r th e g a m e ,posi ti on, acti vi ty
t or
- Worn correctlyand the correctsizeand fit
- Usedeverytime you play or practice
. Followyou coach'srulesfor safetyand the rulesof the sport
. g
P r ac t i c e o o d s p o rts ma n s h ia t a l l ti mes
p
It's better to missone gamethan the whole season.
S t udent ' s igna tu re :
S D ate:
ns
P ar ent ' s / G uard i aSi g n a tu re : Date:
THISFORMMUSTBESIGNED
ANNUATLY
AND MUSTBEAVAILABLE INSPECTION THE
FOR AT
scHooL
Revised 07-ll
PHYS-# 7
CONCUSSION SHEET
FACT FORPARENTS
Whot is a concussion?
A concussiona braininjury.Concussions caused a bump,
is are by blow,or jolt to the head body. Even
or or
whatseems bea mildbumpor blowto thehead beserious.
to can
Whatare the signs symptoms?
and
Youcan'tseea concussion, andsymptoms concussion showup rightafterthe injury maynot
Signs of can or
appearorbenoticeduntildaysaftertheinjury.
lfyourteenreports,oneormoresymptomsofconcussionlisted
below, if younotice symptoms
or the yourself,
keep yourteenout of playandseek
medical
attention
rightaway.
Si g n s b s e rv e d y P a re n ts r Guardi ans
O B o Symptoms Reported Athlete
by
. Ap p e a rs a z e do r s tu n n e d
d . H eadache " pressure"n head
or i
. l s c o n fu s e d b o u t a s s i g n ment posi ti on
a or . N ausea vomi ti ng
or
. Forgets instruction
an . B al ance probl ems di zzi ness
or
. l s u n s u reo f g a me ,s c o re , r opponent
o . D oubl e bl urryvi si on
or
. Mo v e sc l u m s i l y . S ensi ti vi ty l i ghtor noi se
to
. Answersquestions slowly . Feeling sluggish, hazy,foggy,or groggy
. Loses consciousness (evenbriefly) . C oncentrati on memoryprobl e m s
or
. Sh o w sm o o d ,b e h a v i o r, r personal i ty
o . Confusion
changes . Justnot " feel i ng ght"or i s " feeling
ri down"
. C a n ' tre c a l e v e n tsp ri o rto hi t or fal l
l
. Can't recalleventsafter hit or fall
How con you help your teen prevent a concussionT
Everysport is different,but there are stepsyour teenscan take to protectthemselves
from concussion other
and
injur i e s .
' M a k e s u re th e y w e a r th e r i ght protecti veequi pment thei r acti vi ty. l t shoul dfi t prop er ly, well
for be
,
ma i n ta i n e da n d b e w o rn c o nsi stentland correctl y.
y
' Ensure that they follow their coaches' rulesfor safetyand the rulesof the sport
. Encourage them to practice good sportsmanship all times.
at
Whot should you do if you think your teen hos a concussion?
1. Keepyour teen out of play. lf your teen has a concussion, her/hisbrain needstime to heal. Don't let your
t e e n re tu rn to p l a y th e d a y o f th e i nj uryand unti l a heal thcareprofessi onal ,experi enced e valuat ingor
in f
concussion, saysyour teen is symptom-free and it's OK to return to play. A repeat concussion that occurs
before the brain recovers from the first - usually within a short periodof time (hours,days,or weeks)- can
slow recovery increase likelihood havinglong-termproblems.In rare cases,
or the of repeatconcussions can
r e s u l ti n e d e ma(b ra i ns w e l l i n g )permanent
, brai ndamage, and evendeath.
2. Seekmedicalattention right away. A healthcareprofessional experienced evaluating concussion
in for will
b e a b l eto d e c i d eh o w s e ri o u s e concussi on and w hen i t i s safefor your teen to returnto spo r t s.
th is
3. Teachyour teen that it's not smart to play with a concussion.Restis key after a concussion. Sometimes
athletes wrongly believe that it shows strength and courageto play injured. Discourage others from
pressuring injuredathletesto play. Don't let your teen convince you that s/he's"just fine".
4. Tell all of your teen's coachesand the student's school nurse about ANy concussion. Coaches, school
,
n u rs e s a n d o th e r s c h o o ls ta ff s houl dknow i f your teen hasever had a concussi on. your teen m ay needt o
limi t a c ti v i ti e s h i l e s /h e i s re c overi ng
w from a concussi on. ngssuch as studyi ng, vi ng,
Thi dri wor kingon a
co m p u te r,p l a y i n gv i d e o g a me s,or exerci si ng may causeconcussi on symptoms reappear get wor se.
to or
T a l kto y o u r h e a l thc a rep ro fe s si onal , w el l as your teen' scoaches,
as schoolnurse, and teachers.lf needed,
they can help adjustyour teen'sschoolactivities duringher/hisrecovery.
P ar en t' s /G u a rd i a n ' sg n a tu re
Si D ate
THISFORMMUSTBESIGNED
ANNUALLY
AND MUSTBEAVAILABLE INSPECTION THE
FOR AT
scHooL
Revised 07-ll PHYS-# 8
w/concussion sheets athletes oarents
fact for and