Parent Concussion Tools & Resources
At River Blades Skating School we take your skaters health and well being a number one priority.
The Ice Sports Industry recently put out concussion resources for their members from the CDC.
We wanted to share with you a glimpse of the Concussion parent education tools they recently shared.
What is a concussion?
A concussion is a type of brain injury that changes the way the brain normally works. A concussion is caused by a bump, blow, or jolt to the head. Concussions can also occur from a blow to the body that causes the head and brain to move rapidly back and forth. Even what seems to be a mild bump to the head can be serious. Concussions can have a more serious effect on a young, developing brain and need to be addressed correctly.
What are the signs and symptoms of a concussion?
You can’t see a concussion. Signs and symptoms of concussion can show up right after an injury or may not appear or be noticed until hours or days after the injury. It is important to watch for changes in how your child or teen is acting or feeling, if symptoms are getting worse, or if s/he just “doesn’t feel right.” Most concussions occur without loss of consciousness.
If your child or teen reports one or more of the symptoms of concussion listed below, or if you notice the signs or symptoms yourself, seek medical attention right away. Children and teens are among those at greatest risk for concussion.
How Can I Help Keep �
My Children or Teens Safe? �
Sports are a great way for children and teens to stay healthy and can help them do well in school. To help lower your children’s or teens’ chances of getting a concussion or other serious brain injury, you should:
• Help create a culture of safety for the team.
o Work with their coach to teach ways to lower the
chances of getting a concussion.
o Talk with your children or teens about concussion and ask if they have concerns about reporting a concussion. Talk with them about their concerns; emphasize the importance of reporting concussions and taking time to recover from one.
o Ensure that they follow their coach’s rules for safety and the rules of the sport.
o Tell your children or teens that you expect them to practice good sportsmanship at all times.
• When appropriate for the sport or activity, teach your children or teens that they must wear a helmet to lower the chances of the most serious types of brain or head injury. However, there is no “concussion-proof” helmet. So, even with a helmet, it is important for children and teens to avoid hits to the head.
How Can I Spot a Possible Concussion?
Children and teens who show or report one or more of the signs and symptoms listed below—or simply say they just “don’t feel right” after a bump, blow, or jolt to the head or body—may have a concussion or other serious brain injury.
Signs Observed by Parents or Coaches
• Appears dazed or stunned
• Forgets an instruction, is confused about an assignment or
position, or is unsure of the game, score, or opponent • Moves clumsily
• Answers questions slowly
• Loses consciousness (even briefly)
• Shows mood, behavior, or personality changes
• Can’t recall events prior to or after a hit or fall
Symptoms Reported by Children and Teens
• Headache or “pressure” in head
• Nausea or vomiting
• Balance problems or dizziness, or double or blurry vision • Bothered by light or noise
• Feeling sluggish, hazy, foggy, or groggy
• Confusion, or concentration or memory problems
• Just not “feeling right,” or “feeling down”
Talk with your children and teens about concussion.
Tell them to report their concussion symptoms to you and their coach right away. Some
children and teens think concussions aren’t serious, or worry that if they report a concussion they will lose their position on the team or look weak. Be sure to remind them that it’s better to miss one game than the whole season.
While most children and teens with a concussion feel better within a couple of weeks, some will have symptoms for months or longer. Talk with your children’s or teens’ healthcare provider if their concussion symptoms do not go away, or if they get worse after they return to their regular activities.
What Are Some More Serious Danger Signs to Look Out For?
In rare cases, a dangerous collection of blood (hematoma) may form on the brain after a bump, blow, or jolt to the head or body and can squeeze the brain against the skull. Call 9-1-1 or take your child or teen to the emergency department right away if, after a bump, blow, or jolt to the head or body, he or she has one or more of these danger signs:
One pupil larger than the other
Drowsiness or inability to wake up
A headache that gets worse and does not go away
Slurred speech, weakness, numbness, or decreased coordination
Repeated vomiting or nausea, convulsions or seizures (shaking or twitching)
Unusual behavior, increased confusion, restlessness, or agitation
Loss of consciousness (passed out/knocked out). Even a brief loss of consciousness should be taken seriously
What Should I Do If My Child or Teen Has a Possible Concussion?
As a parent, if you think your child or teen may have a concussion, you should:
Remove your child or teen from play.
Keep your child or teen out of play the day of the injury. Your child or teen should be seen by a healthcare provider and only return to play with permission from a healthcare provider who is experienced in evaluating for concussion.
Ask your child’s or teen’s healthcare provider for written instructions on helping your child or teen return to school. You can give the instructions to your child’s or teen’s school nurse and teacher(s) and return-to-play instructions to the coach and/or athletic trainer.
Do not try to judge the severity of the injury yourself. Only a healthcare provider should assess a child or teen for a possible concussion. Concussion signs and symptoms often show up soon after the injury. But you may not know how serious the concussion is at first, and some symptoms may not show up for hours or days.
The brain needs time to heal after a concussion. A child’s or teen’s return to school and sports should be a gradual process that is carefully managed and monitored by a healthcare provider.
Children and teens who continue to play while having concussion symptoms, or who
return to play too soon—while the brain is still healing—have a greater chance of getting another concussion. A repeat concussion that occurs while the brain is still healing from the first injury can be very serious, and can affect a child or teen for a lifetime. It can even be fatal.
To learn more, go to www.cdc.gov/HEADSUP
What should I do if my child or teen has a concussion?
Seek medical attention right away.
A healthcare provider experienced in evaluatingfor concussion can determine how serious the concussion is and when it is safe for your child or teen to return to normal activities, including physical activity and school (concentration and learning activities).
Help them take time to get better.
If your child or teen has a concussion, her or hisbrain needs time to heal. Your child or teen may need to limit activities while s/he is recovering from a concussion. Exercising or activities that involve a lot of concentration, such as studying, working on the computer, or playing video games may cause concussion symptoms (such as headache or tiredness) to reappear or get worse. After a concussion, physical and cognitive activities—such as concentration and learning— should be carefully managed and monitored by a healthcare provider.
Talk to your child or teen about how they are feeling.
Your child may feel frustrated, sad, and even angry because s/he cannot return to recreation and sports right away, or cannot keep up with schoolwork. Your child may also feel isolated from peers and social networks. Talk often with your child about these issues and offer your support and encouragement.How can I help my child return to school safely after a concussion?
Most children can return to school within a few days. Help your child or teen get needed support when returning to school after a concussion. Talk with your child’s teachers, school nurse, coach, speech-language pathologist, or counselor about your child’s concussion and symptoms.
Your child’s or teen’s healthcare provider can use CDC’s Letter to Schools to provide strategies to help the school set up any needed supports.
As your child’s symptoms decrease, the extra help or support can be removed gradually. Children and teens who return to school after a concussion may need to:
• Take rest breaks as needed
• Spend fewer hours at school
• Be given more time to take tests or complete assignments
• Receive help with schoolwork
• Reduce time spent reading, writing, or on the computer• Sit out of physical activities, such as recess, PE, and sports until approved by a healthcare provider
• Complete fewer assignments
• Avoid noisy and over-stimulating environments
Parent Concussion Fact Sheet
