On July 1, 2012, New York State enacted the Concussion Management and Awareness Act. The Commissioner of Education worked with the Commissioner of Health to produce guidelines for school districts to follow in protecting the health and well-being of concussed students.
The Minisink Valley Central School District has responded to the New York State Concussion Management and Awareness Act by developing a district-wide Concussion Management Protocol. This protocol outlines procedures for district staff, parents, and students to follow in managing head injuries; as well as guidance in returning to activities following a concussion.
What is a concussion?
A concussion is a reaction by the brain to a jolt or force that can transmitted to the head by an impact or blow occurring anywhere on the body. Essentially, a concussion results from the brain moving back and forth or twisting rapidly inside the skull.
Facts about concussions from the Centers for Disease Control (CDC) )
An estimated four million people under age 19 sustain a head injury annually.
Of these, approximately 52,000 die and 275,000 are hospitalized.
An estimated 300,000 sports and recreation related concussions occur every year.
Students who have had at least one concussion are at an increased risk for another concussion.
In New York State in 2009, approximately 50,500 children under the age of 19 visited the emergency room for a traumatic brain injury, and of those, approximately 3,000 were hospitalized.
Requirement of school districts
Education
Each school coach, physical education teacher, nurse, and athletic trainer completes an approved course on concussion management on biennial basis, starting with the 2012-2013 school year.
School coaches and physical education teachers complete the CDC course.
School nurses and certified athletic trainers complete the concussion course.
Information
Districts provide parents concussion management information and have parents sign a parental permission form.
Removal from athletics
Any student that has or is believe to have sustained a mild traumatic injury is immediately removed from athletic activities.
No students are allowed to resume athletic activity until they have been symptom free for 25 hours and have been evaluated by and received written and signed authorization from a licensed physician. For interscholastic athletics, clearance must come from the school medical director.Such authorization is kept in the student’s permanent health record.
Schools follow directives issued by the student’s treating physician.
Symptoms
Symptoms of a concussion are the result of a temporary change in the brain’s function. In most cases, the symptoms of a concussion generally resolve over a short period of time; however, in some cases, symptoms will last for weeks or longer. Children and adolescents are more susceptible to concussions and take longer than adults to recover.
It is imperative that any student who is suspected of having a concussion is removed from athletic activity (e.g. recess, PE class, sports) and remains out of such activities until evaluated and cleared to return to activity by a physician.
Symptoms include, but are not limited to:
Decreased or absent memory of events prior to or immediately after the injury, or difficulty retaining new information
Confusion or appears dazed
Headache or head pressure
Loss of consciousness
Balance difficulties, dizziness, or clumsy movements
Double or blurry vision
Sensitivity to light and/or sound
Nausea, vomiting and/or loss of appetite
Irritability, sadness, or other changes in personality
Feeling sluggish, foggy, or light-headed
Concentration or focusing problems
Drowsiness
Fatigue and/or sleep issues, or sleeping more than usual
Students who develop any of the following signs, or if signs and symptoms worsen, should be seen and evaluated immediately at the nearest hospital emergency room.
Headaches that worsen
Seizures
Looks drowsy and/or cannot be awakened
Repeated vomiting
Slurred speech
Unable to recognize people or places
Weakness or numbing in arms or legs, facial drooping
Unsteady gait
Change in pupil size in one eye
Significant irritability
Any loss of consciousness
Suspicion for skull fracture: blood draining from ear or clear fluid from the nose
Return to learn or return to play protocols
Cognitive rest
Activities students should avoid include, but are not limited to, the following:
Computers and video games
Television viewing
Texting
Reading or writing
Studying or homework
Taking a test or completing significant projects
Loud music
Bright lights
Students may only be able to attend school for short periods of time. Accommodations may have to be made for missed tests and assignments.
Physical Rest
Activities students should avoid include, but are not limited to, the following:
Contact and collision
High speed, intense exercise and/or sports
High risk for re-injury or impacts
Any activity that results in an increased heart rate or increased head pressure
Return to play protocol
When the student is symptom free for 24 hours and cleared by medical staff, the following protocols are followed:
Day 1: Low impact, non-strenuous, light aerobic activity.
Day 2: Higher impact, higher exertion, moderate aerobic activity, no resistance training.
Day 3: Sport specific non-contact activity. Low resistance weight training with a spotter.
Day 4: Sport specific activity, non-contact drills. Higher resistance weight training with a spotter.
Day 5: Full contact training drills and intense aerobic activity.
Day 6: Return to full activities with clearance from medical staff.
Any return of symptoms during the return to play protocol, the student will return to previous day’s activities until they are symptom free.