The Boys & Girls Clubs Of Southcentral Alaska Athletics Staff and its Volunteer Coaches take very seriously the safety of all of the Athletes participating in our various sports programs. Therefore, to help ensure the health and safety of our young athletes, is taking the initiative to offer information about concussions to coaches, parents, and athletes involved in youth sports. The following provides important information on preventing, recognizing, and responding to a concussion:

 

WHAT IS A CONCUSSION?

A concussion is a traumatic brain injury that interferes with normal brain function. Medically, a concussion is a complex, pathophysiological event to the brain that is induced by trauma which may or may not involve a loss of consciousness (LOC). Concussion results in a constellation of physical, cognitive, emotional, and sleep-related symptoms. Signs or symptoms may last from several minutes to days, weeks, months or even longer in some cases. 

CONCUSSION SIGNS, SYMPTOMS, AND MANAGEMENT AT TRAINING AND COMPETITIONS 

Step 1:

Is emergency treatment needed? This would include the following scenarios:

(1) Spine or neck injury or pain

(2) Behavior patterns change, unable to recognize people/places, less responsive than usual. 

(3) Loss of consciousness 

(4) Headaches that worsen

(5) Seizures

(6) Very drowsy, can't be awakened

(7) Repeated vomiting

(8) Increasing confusion or irritability

(9) Weakness, numbness in arms and legs 

Step 2:

Did a concussion occur? Evaluate the player and note if any of the following signs and/or symptoms are present:

(1) Dazed look or confusion about what happened

(2) Memory difficulties

(3) Neck pain, headaches, nausea, vomiting, double vision, blurriness, ringing noise or sensitive to sounds

(4) Short attention span; Can’t keep focused

(5) Slow reaction time, slurred speech, bodily movements are lagging, fatigue, and slowly answers questions or has difficulty answering questions 

(6) Abnormal physical and/or mental behavior

(7) Coordination skills are behind, ex:balancing, dizziness, clumsiness, reaction time.

Step 3:

If a possible concussion occurred, emergency treatment may be needed. However, if not, what should be done now?

Focus on these areas every 5-10 min for the next 1 - 2 hours, without returning to any activities:

(1) Balance, movement

(2) Speech

(3) Memory, instructions, and responses

(4) Attention on topics,details,confusion,ability to concentrate

(5) State of consciousness

(6) Mood, behavior, and personality

(7) Headache or “pressure” in head

(8) Nausea or vomiting

(9) Sensitivity to light and noise 

Players shall not re-enter competition, training, or partake in any activities for at least 24 hours. Even if there are no signs or symptoms after 15-20 min, activity should not be taken by the player. 

Step 4:

A player diagnosed with a possible concussion may return to play only after release from a medical doctor or doctor of osteopathy specializing in concussion treatment and management. 

Step 5: 

If there is a possibility of a concussion, do the following:

(1) A Concussion Notification Form or Incident Report Form is to be filled out in duplicate and signed by a team official of the player’s team 

(2) If the player is able to do so, have the player sign and date the Form. If the player is not able to sign, note on the player’s signature line “unavailable” 

(3) If a parent/legal guardian of the player is present, have the parent/legal guardian sign and date the Form, and give the parent/legal guardian one of the copies of the completed Form. If the parent/legal guardian is not present, then the team official or BGCA Athletics Representative is responsible for notifying the parent/legal guardian ASAP by phone or email and then submitting the Form to the parent/legal guardian by email or mail. When the parent/legal guardian is not present, the team official or BGCA Athletics Representative must make a record of how and when the parent/legal guardian was notified. The notification will include a request for the parent/legal guardian to provide confirmation and completion of the Concussion Notification Form whether in writing or electronically. 

(4) The team official must also get the Player’s Card from the referee, and attach it to the copy of the Form and submit to a BGCA Athletics Representative within 48 hours of the incident. 

 

Heads Up: Concussion in Sports Intro Course

We are encouraging every coach and adult who works with players to take this course. 

Each participant who successfully completes the program will receive a certificate. To register and participate in the free online programs offered, please visit http://www.cdc.gov/concussion/HeadsUp/Training/index.html