amount of time you need to recover depends on
how long you should sit out. Until then, it’s
• Wear appropriate headgear and safety
Remember, most peopl
Playing it Safe RAISING AWARENESS OF SAFETY ON THE PLAYING FIELD

How Do I Know if I Have a Concussion?

What is a Concussion?
Simply put, when you hit your head, your brain moves and can bang against the inside of your skull. This can cause your brain to bruise or lead to tearing of blood vessels and injury to the nerves resulting in a concussion – a temporary loss of normal brain function.
Concussions and other brain injuries are fairly common in athletes.According to a recent study, high school athletes in nine sports sustained an estimated 137,000 concussions during the 2007-2008 school year. High-impact sports such as football, boxing, lacrosse, soccer, basketball and hockey pose a higher risk of head injury, even with the use of protective headgear.

So you’ve hit your head – but do you have a concussion? Here are some of the signs:

• “Seeing stars” and feeling dazed, dizzy, or lightheaded
• Nausea or vomiting • Headaches
• Blurred vision, unevenly sized pupils and sensitivity to light
• Slurred speech or saying things that don’t make sense

• Difficulty concentrating, thinking or making decisions
• Difficulty with coordination or balance • Feeling anxious or irritable for no
apparent reason
• Feeling overly tired
• Memory loss or forgetfulness (if you don’t know your name – there’s a good chance you have a concussion)

Who is an Athletic Trainer?

Not Just Ankle Tapers, Athletic Trainers Are Healthcare Professionals

Athletic trainers are physical medicine specialists, who make clinical decisions regarding injury prevention, rehabilitation and most importantly, provide recognition of and on-site emergency care for
catastrophic injuries, such as sudden cardiac arrest, heat illness and concussions.
Recognized as allied health professionals by theAmerican MedicalAssociation (AMA), athletic trainers have earned a minimum of a bachelor’s degree from an accredited university, completed appropriate clinical training and are certified nationally by the Board of Certification.

You don’t have to lose consciousness to have a concussion.

The signs of a concussion are not always recognized, which is why having an athletic trainer who is specifically trained to recognize concussions or a medical professional trained in concussion management is essential. They can assess your injury and determine if you have a concussion. Often baseline testing
– when players are tested for neurological responses prior to the season – can be helpful in evaluating if you have a concussion.

You Have a Concussion, Now What?

First, stop playing. Don’t return to play even if	Preventing Concussions
you feel fine – your brain needs time to heal. The	Some accidents can not be avoided, but you can
precautions:
how long the symptoms last. Healthy teens can	do a lot to prevent a concussion by taking simple usually resume normal activities within a few
weeks, but each situation is different.
Your athletic trainer and/or doctor will determine	equipment
football, learn how to tackle without leadin
important to get plenty of rest for both your body	• Learn appropriate techniques. In sports like g and mind.Activities that require concentration and          with your head, and in soccer, avoid heading attention (like studying, test taking, or even playing         the ball when it is kicked at high velocity video games) may make the symptoms worse and           from close range
delay recovery.
Dangers of a Concussion:                      with concussions recover e Continuing to play or returning to activity too           just fine with appropriate
soon will put you at risk for serious injury – even if	treatment. But it’s important you feel fine. If your brain hasn’t healed properly	to take proper steps if you from a concussion and you get hit again (even if	suspect a concussion.
it’s with less force), you can develop long-term disabilities or die.

You can learn more about concussion safety by visiting the California Athletic Trainers’ Association website at www.ca-at.org or the Youth Sports Safety Alliance at www.youthsportssafetyalliance.org.