What Is A Concussion?
A concussion is a brain injury caused by a force to the head or body that leads to a change in brain function. Everyone’s body reacts differently to impacts, so there is no set path to diagnosis and recovery for all. Symptoms may range from mild to severe and may last only a few days in mild cases but could last weeks to months in more severe cases.
Signs and Symptoms of a Concussion
- Headache or pressure in the head
- Dizziness or balance problems
- Nausea or vomiting
- Blurred/double vision
- Neck pain
- Confusion or memory/concentration issues
- Light or noise sensitivity
- Excessive fatigue or sleep disturbance
- Feeling “in a fog” or “slowed down”
Other observable signs include:
- Dazed or “glassy eyes”
- Disorientation
- Forgetfulness
- Clumsiness
- Loss of consciousness
- Emotional changes
What are Some Tips for Maximizing Recovery?
Monitor your child’s symptoms daily. Routines can be important in helping a safe and speedy recovery. Plan a steady 8-10 hours of sleep rather than frequent napping. Having 3 well-balanced meals per day to provide the brain with energy and proper hydration is key. Limit outside stimuli such as TV/phone/computer screens, loud noise, and a “busy” atmosphere.
The Concussion Protocol in Summary
As mentioned above, everyone is different in recovery.
The first step is to remove your child from athletic activity and physical education to be diagnosed by a licensed medical provider.
Next would be to have your child evaluated and cleared by a licensed physician. Nurse practitioners and physician assistants often work alongside physicians, but the policy REQUIRES a PHYSICIAN signature in the concussion protocol.
Lastly, your child will complete the multi-step return to play progression under the supervision of a school staff member before being allowed to return to full athletic participation.
New Hartford protocols for return-to-play are in direct compliance with NYS guidelines and policies. Some physicians use similar protocols but can be slightly more conservative with their timelines. If your child’s physician chooses to use a protocol more strict than ours, we will abide by their choice, but will never accept a protocol that is more lenient than the state guideline.
Our priority is to make sure your child is well and has fully completed the concussion protocol before returning to play. We realize that your child might participate in non-school associated club sports, however per NYS guidelines, your child must complete our protocol or a similar protocol before returning to athletic activity.
If you have any further questions about concussions or our school policies, please contact our school nurse or athletic trainer and they will be happy to help you to the best of their ability.