New Partnership to Help
Washington
State Coaches Recognize
and Respond to Concussions
[
this press release
is also available as a word doc ]
Teaming Up to Protect Young
Athletes
The Brain Injury
Association of Washington (BIAWA) is teaming up with the U.S.
Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) and the Seattle
Seahawks as part of a campaign to help protect young athletes
from a serious, but often underestimated health threat -
concussion. Concussions are a type of traumatic brain injury (TBI)
caused by a bump, blow, or jolt to the head or body that can
disrupt the way the brain normally works. As many as 3.8 million
sports-and recreation-related concussions occur in the United
States each year.
This campaign,
“Washington Heads Up: Concussion in Sports,” is an expansion of
CDC’s “Heads Up: Concussion in High School” and “Heads Up:
Concussion in Youth Sports” initiatives and includes materials
and information to help coaches identify concussions and take
immediate steps to respond when a concussion is suspected.
Campaign spokesman and former Seattle Seahawks quarterback Brock
Huard will be featured in the campaign’s TV public service
announcement, expected to air later in 2008.
Click here to view
the PSA
(requires
Apple Quicktime)
“Sports and
recreational activities are important in the development of
young people, and most of the time injuries that occur with
these activities are not serious,” states Dr. Stan Herring, Team
physician for the Seattle Seahawks and Mariners. “However,
concussions can be a very real problem, and immediate
recognition and proper management is essential. Educating
athletes, coaches, athletic directors and parents about
concussions can help keep sports safe.”
Though they are sometimes described as ‘dings’ or
having one’s ‘bell rung,’ even a seemingly mild bump or blow to
the head can be serious. While most athletes who sustain a
concussion will recover, some will continue to have problems
that can affect the way they think, learn, feel, and act.
“Early identification of an athlete with
concussion is critical, as athletes who return to play too soon
following initial injury are at risk for a repeat concussion.”
said Richard H. Adler, President of the BIAWA. “A repeat
concussion that occurs before the brain recovers from the
first—usually within a short period of time —can slow recovery
or increase the risk of having long-term problems and rarely
even death. This campaign is helping to equip coaches in the
state of Washington with a common sense approach to help prevent
and respond to sports-related concussions.”
As part of the campaign, a clipboard and posters
that provide a comprehensive list of signs and symptoms of
concussion, as well as important steps to take when a concussion
is suspected, will be mailed to every middle and high school in
Washington State along with a letter from the Seattle Seahawks.
“Coaches are on the frontline in the effort to
identify and respond to concussions and they are eager to learn
how to keep their athletes safe and healthy,” said CDC Injury
Center director Dr. Ileana Arias. “We believe it is better to
miss one game than to miss the entire season – or the promise of
a healthy future.’”
To best protect athletes and prevent long-term
problems, coaches and parents should:
·
Insist that safety comes first;
·
Ensure that athletes always wear the right protective equipment
for their activity; and
·
Make sure that their school and/or youth sports league has a
concussion action plan in place.
If a concussion occurs or is suspected, coaches
and parents should:
1.
Remove the athlete from play.
2.
Ensure that the athlete is evaluated right away by an
appropriate health care professional.
3.
Allow the athlete to return to play only with permission from a
health care professional with experience in evaluating for
concussion.
According to
BIAWA Executive Director Gene van den Bosch, the campaign
materials will be distributed at various local events throughout
the year, including state athletic conferences.
For more
information on CDC’s “Heads Up: Concussion in High School
Sports” and “Heads Up: Concussion in Youth Sports” initiatives
visit:
www.cdc.gov/ncipc/concussion.htm.
To learn more
about concussions, traumatic brain injury, or injury in general,
visit the CDC Injury Center’s website at
www.cdc.gov/injury.
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Heads Up: Concussion in Youth Sports
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Brain Injury Association of
Washington
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1 877-824-1766 or 1 800-523-5438
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