Ask the Experts Blog

A new school year means a new season of high school athletes, and with that comes a new season of potential injuries. 

According to the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention, the amount of reported concussions has doubled in the last 10 years. Football is still the leading cause of sports-related injuries for children in the U.S. But thanks to recent changes in education, awareness, and quality of equipment, it's never been safer to play football or any other contact sport. 

The National Center for Catastrophic Sports Injury Research recommends these safety tips to help students stay safe while they play the sport they love:

• Do not lead with your head. Coaches should tell players not to tackle or block with their heads or run head-down with the ball.
• Coaches should teach conditioning exercises that will strengthen young athletes' necks. A strong neck makes it easier to hold the head up firmly when making a block or tackle.
• Athletes should have a pre-practice physical exam. This may include an electrocardiogram, a noninvasive screening test of the heart and blood vessels.
• Teams should have medical assistance on hand at practices and games.
• Teams should have an automatic external defibrillator at practices and games, as well as someone trained to use it.
• Coaches should inspect each player's equipment and make sure that a helmet fits properly.

• Players should be given free access to water and electrolyte fluids. Coaches should consider not holding outdoor practice in extreme heat and humidity.

However, sometimes injuries can’t be avoided. You can’t see a concussion. Signs and symptoms of concussion can show up right after the injury or may not appear or be noticed until days or weeks after the injury. If a head injury does occur, parents and coaches should be able to recognize key symptoms such as: 

• Loss of consciousness
• Vision problems
• Headache
• Difficulty walking
• Confusion
• Memory loss
  
  

If your child is experiencing any of these symptoms, it is important to have an accurate assessment of the cognitive and emotional impact of head injury completed. 

“If a parent or coach suspects that someone has experienced a concussion, the player should be immediately removed from play and evaluated by a qualified professional as soon as possible,” said Christopher Contardo, PhD, at Psychiatric and Psychological Specialties in St. Joseph. “Players should never go back to playing without a thorough and personal return to play plan closely guided by a provider who is up to date on concussion management.”

Join the Conversation! Has your child experienced a concussion - what key signs should parents be looking for?