Code: JJIF

 MANAGEMENT OF CONCUSSIONS AND OTHER HEAD INJURIES

The Board recognizes that concussions and other head injuries are potentially serious and may result in significant brain damage and/or death if not recognized and managed properly. The Board adopts this policy to promote the safety of students participating in school-sponsored extracurricular athletic activities, including but not limited to interscholastic sports.

TRAINING

By June 30 of each year, the Athletic Director will identify the school-sponsored athletic activities that pose a risk of concussion or other head injury . A list of these activities will be distributed to school administrators and coaches.

All coaches, including volunteer coaches, must undergo training in the identification and management  of  concussive  and  other   head  injuries   prior   to   assuming  their   coaching responsibilities. The training must be consistent with such protocols as may be identified or developed by the Maine Department of Education (DOE) and include instruction in the use of such forms as the DOE may develop or require.

Coaches shall be required to undergo refresher training every two years or when protocols and/or forms have been revised.

STUDENT AND PARENT INFORMATION

Annually, at the beginning of each school year, students and parents of students who will be participating in school- sponsored athletic activities will be provided information regarding:

A.   The risk of concussion and other head injuries and the dangers associated with continuing to participate when a concussion or other head injury is suspected;

B.  The signs and symptoms of concussion and other head injuries; and

C.  The school unit's protocols for

1)  Removal from the activity when a student is suspected of having a concussion or other head injury

2) Evaluation

3) Return to participation in the activity ("return to play" ).

The student and his/her parent{s) must sign a statement acknowledging that they  have  received and read this information before the student will be allowed to participate in any  school- sponsored athletic activity .

MANAGEMENT OF CONCUSSIVE AND OTHER HEAD INJURIES

It is the responsibility of the coach of the activity to act in accordance with this policy when the coach recognizes that a student may be exhibiting signs, symptoms and behaviors associated with a concussion or other head injury.

Without exception students will not be allowed to participate in contact sports without their bi­ yearly physical and Impact Screening .

Any student suspected of having sustained a concussion or other head injury during a school­ sponsored athletic activity including but not limited to competition, practice  or  scrimmage, must be removed from the activity immediately. The student and his/her parent{s) will be informed of the need for an evaluation for brain injury before the student  will be allowed to return to the activity.

No student will be permitted to return to the activity or to participate in any other school­ sponsored athletic activity on the day of the suspected concussion.

The coach will notify both the athletic director and the school nurse following any confirmed concussion. The school nurse will record the event and forward the information to the school physician {or designee) and the athletic trainer. Once the athlete has been cleared to play by a provider, the nurse will record the athlete completing the entire return to play protocol.

Following a confirmed concussion, the student will be evaluated by a qualified medical provider prior to returning to play. This evaluation can be done through the School Based Health Center or the school physician.

Should students wish to use their own provider, this provider will need to have the patient cleared through the school physician {provider to provider communication), to confirm exam findings and medical history, and to review Impact and Biodex test result s, prior to return to play. A phone call will be sufficient in most cases, however , if the school physician (or designee) does not receive adequate information , the student may st ill need further evaluation in order to begin the school return to play protocol.

Coaches and other school personnel shall comply with the student ' s health care provider's recommendation in regard to gradual return to participation. No student will be permitted to return to full participation (competition) until cleared to do so. More than one evaluation by the student's health care provider may be necessary before the student is cleared for full participation .

If at any time during the return to play program signs or symptoms of a concussion are observed, the student must be removed from the activity and referred to his/her health care provider for re-evaluation .

COGNITIVE CONSIDERATIONS

School personnel should be alert to cognitive and academic issues that may be experienced by students who have suffered a concussion or other head injury, including but not limited to difficulty with concentration, organization, long-and-short term memory and sensitivity to bright lights and sounds, and accommodate a gradual return to full participation in academic activities as appropriate, based on the recommendations of the student's health care provider and appropriate designated school personnel (e.g., 504 Coordinator).

CONCUSSION MANAGEMENT TEAM

The Superintendent will appoint a concussion management team including a school administrator to be responsible, under the administrative supervision of the Superintendent, to make recommendations related to implementation of this policy. The concussion management team will include the Athletic Director and school nurse and may include one or more principals or assistant principals, the school physician and such other school personnel or consultants as the Superintendent deems appropriate.

Adopted: 11/14/2012 

Revised: 6/9/2015