Concussion

The LPS Concussion policy is outlined in athletic code of conduct beginning on page 16. Any athlete with a suspected head injury should be removed from play and SCAT5 should be performed. Athlete should not be released except to the care of a parent or guardian. They WILL NOT BE ALLOWED TO DRIVE THEMSELF HOME. Parents must be contacted immediately; explained the concerns of possible head injury and any red flags indicating need for further and immediate follow up with emergency care.

All athletes removed from play due to a potential head injury must be cleared by a qualified medical professional before returning to play. Many physicians in the area have differing protocols, so making the appointment is sometimes the longest step. Athletes will track symptoms daily in the athletic training room. Athletes will take a post-injury ImPACT test following the injury as another tool for judging cognitive impairment. Once asymptomatic the athlete may begin the return to play guidelines. The guidelines are a 6-stage progression back to activity. Each stage must be a minimum of 24 hours and the athlete must remain symptom free. If the athlete should have a recurrence of symptoms, they will repeat the stage before continuing. The stages are as follows.

Stage 1: treat symptoms and become asymptomatic

Stage 2: stationary bike 15-20 minutes

Stage 3: Individual/skill practice

Stage 4: non-contact practice

Stage 5: Full normal practice (Must have medical clearance before completing this stage).

Stage 6: Return to game play

Athletes must also complete the ImPACT test and scores must return to baseline levels before full return to activity.

Symptom Treatment Resources

The first priority in treating concussions is to manage and reduce the symptoms. Any activity to task that increases symptoms should be avoided and gradually reintroduced. This does include school work, should your child require academic accommodations those can be made only upon request with the counseling department. You can email your child’s counselor and they will notify their teachers of the need for academic accommodation. That being said as we continue the return to play process, we do want all of our students to return to learn before they return to play. Student athletes are no longer eligible for academic accommodation once they return to practices, the need for accommodation suggest the brain has not completed the healing process.

AHS Counselling Department