How serious are concussions?
Mar
17
Written by:
17/03/2011 8:14 AM
Last August, this blog addressed the issue of hockey injuries and children and questioned whether there was truly a need for kids to learn how to body check at a young age. It would seem that this issue is still generating as much buzz in the media today as it did last summer before the hockey season had even started.
What all parents need to know is that a concussion is a serious brain injury. Even if your child has not lost consciousness or has not been visibly injured, a concussion is a brain injury and it must be assessed properly and treated with the same level of concern as more visible injuries.
Concussions happen when bumps, blows or jolts to the head (against, boards, ice, another player, sticks or body checks) cause the brain to move around inside the skull. Helmets with appropriate face protection and mouth guards are protective against various head and face injuries and should be worn at all times by all players when participating in sports such as hockey. However, in order to reduce the incidences of concussion, other measures such as proper identification of concussion, education and emphasis on fair play, respect for opponents and strict rule enforcement are necessary.
It is important that players, coaches, trainers, officials, parents and physicians become familiar with the common signs and symptoms of a concussion and that they become familiar with and strictly adhere to appropriate return to play protocols. Research has shown that concussions occur more frequently, are more complex than previously thought and that once a player has sustained a concussion s/he is at greater risk of sustaining a second or third concussion.
But the greatest shift will have to come from within sports leagues themselves. A culture of player safety, where dangerous play, fighting, retaliation and hits to the head are not tolerated, will need to become paramount. It would seem that the federal government agrees, as it has now pledged $5 million for sports injury prevention. This is s good first step towards a pan-Canadian injury prevention strategy.
To learn more about sport-related concussions, including common signs and symptoms, and return-to play guidelines, visit www.thinkfirst.ca.
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