MANAGEMENT OF CONCUSSIONS AND OTHER HEAD INJURIES

The Board recognizes that concussions and other head injuries are serious and could result in significant brain damage and/or death if not recognized and managed properly. The Board further acknowledges that a student may suffer a concussion during any activity during the school day or outside of school. The Board adopts this policy to promote the safety of all students, regardless of where or when the head injury occurred.

DEFINITIONS

The following definitions shall apply for the purpose of this policy.

Concussion:  A concussion is a traumatic brain injury caused by a bump, blow, or jolt to the head that can change the way the brain normally works. Concussions can occur from a fall or a blow to the head or body that causes the head and brain to quickly move back and forth.

Concussion Management Team:  A Concussion Management Team (CMT), appointed by the superintendent or head of school, may include, but is not limited to the following:  school administrator, school nurse, athletic administrator, school counselor, and school physician. The Team shall oversee the implementation, graduated school reentry protocols, and make recommendations related to implementation and review of this policy. This team may be combined with another existing student support team within the school or school administrative unit.

Graduated school reentry:  Graduated school reentry is a gradual and coordinated return to school activities following a concussion. It is an individualized, flexible plan developed by the Concussion Management Team or designee with input from the student, parents, and medical provider.

Medical clearance:  Medical clearance includes a written statement from a health care provider licensed to diagnose a concussion, who is trained in the treatment and management of concussions, which allows a student to start the school’s graduated school reentry plan and/or graduated return to play protocol.

School:  School means any public school and any private school enrolling more than 60% of its students at public expense in the State of Maine.

School personnel:  School personnel include any persons working within and on behalf of the school in a supervisory role to students during school sponsored activities including volunteers in a student supervisory role, such as athletic coaches.

TRAINING

Prior to the beginning of each sports season, athletics-related school personnel (including volunteers) identified by the school unit’s Concussion Management Team must be made aware of this policy and protocols related to the management of concussive injuries and must participate in concussion awareness training that includes recognizing signs and symptoms that may suggest a concussive or other head injury and include instruction in the use of graduated school reentry protocols. This training must be consistent with protocols as identified or developed by the Maine Department of Education (DOE).

Prior to the beginning of each school year, non-athletics related school personnel (for example, physical education teachers, school nurses, personnel with recess duty) identified by the school unit’s CMT, must be made aware of this school policy and protocols related to the management of concussive injuries and must participate in concussion awareness training that includes recognizing signs and symptoms that may suggest a concussive or other head injury. This training must be consistent with protocols as identified or developed by the Maine Department of Education (DOE).

STUDENT AND PARENTS/GUARDIANS

Prior to participating in any school athletic activity, all students will be provided information including:

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;

The signs, symptoms and behaviors associated with concussion and other head injuries; and

The school administrative unit’s protocols for 1) removal of the student from the activity when the student is suspected of having sustained a concussion or other head injury, 2) evaluation, 3) medical clearance, and 4) graduated school reentry protocols.

The student and his/her parent(s)/guardian(s) must sign a statement acknowledging that they received and read this information before the student is allowed to participate in any school athletic activity.

MANAGEMENT OF CONCUSSIVE AND OTHER HEAD INJURIES

It is the responsibility of all school personnel trained in the signs, symptoms and behaviors related to concussion or other head injury, to act in accordance with this policy when that person recognizes that a student may be exhibiting such signs, symptoms and/or behaviors.

Any student suspected of having sustained a concussion or other head injury during school or a school athletic activity must be removed from the activity immediately and evaluated by a qualified school personnel.

Any student suspected of having sustained a concussion or other head injury is prohibited from further participation in any school activities until he/she is evaluated by the school nurse or other school personnel trained in such evaluation, such as an athletic trainer who is able to determine if referral to a licensed health care provider is necessary.

The student and his/her parent(s)/guardian(s) will be informed of the referral to a licensed health care provider for a medical evaluation for possible concussion or brain injury before the student is allowed to begin the graduated school reentry and/or graduated return to play protocol, and then full participation in learning, recess, physical education, and any school activities.

No student is permitted to return to the activity or to participate in any other school activity on the day of the suspected concussion.

If referral to a licensed health care provider is necessary, the student will require written medical clearance from a licensed health care provider qualified and trained in concussion management. The student is also required to complete the graduated return to school protocol.

School personnel should be alert to cognitive and academic issues that may be experienced by a student who has 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.

School personnel shall accommodate a graduated school reentry protocol for return to full participation in all academic activities as appropriate, based on the recommendation of the student’s concussion trained health care provider and appropriate designated school personnel (e.g. 504 Coordinator, school nurse).

No student is permitted to return to full participation in extra-curricular school activities until fully returned to his/her academic program.

If at any time during the gradual return to school process the student exhibits signs, symptoms or behaviors of concussion, the student must be removed from the activity for that day and follow the graduated school reentry protocol.

MEDICAL CLEARANCE

Once a referral to a health care provider has been made by the school nurse, athletic trainer, or other health services personnel, the student must receive written clearance from a health care provider licensed to diagnose a concussion who is trained in the treatment and management of concussions. The medical clearance allows a student to begin the graduated school reentry protocol.

CONCUSSION MANAGEMENT TEAM (CMT)

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 and review of this policy. The Concussion Management Team will include the school nurse and athletic administrator and may include one or more principals or assistant principals, the school physician and other school personnel or consultants as the Superintendent deems appropriate. The Team shall oversee and implement this policy and related protocols for concussive head injuries based on the currently accepted best practices. The Team, under the direction of the superintendent, shall identify the school personnel who shall be trained in concussion signs and symptoms and the school activities covered by this policy.

DATA

The Board recognizes how serious concussions are and the need for improved understanding of concussions in our schools and their impact on learning and school attendance. The school unit will track the number of concussions, activity associated with the injury, number of school days missed, and other information determined necessary by the Concussion Management Team. The CMT will review this data and make recommendations to the Board as needed.

Legal Reference:  20-A MRSA§254(17)

Adopted: November 5, 2012

Revised December 18, 2024