Concussion facts

WHAT IS A CONCUSSION?

Center for Disease Control and Prevention:

"A concussion is a type of traumatic brain injury—or TBI—caused by a bump, blow, or jolt to the head or by a hit to the body that causes the head and brain to move rapidly back and forth. This sudden movement can cause the brain to bounce around or twist in the skull, creating chemical changes in the brain and sometimes stretching and damaging brain cells."

An estimated 1.6 - 3.8 million concussions occur during sports or recreational activities each year, according to the CDC. However, this is a vast underestimation of actual totals, due to the fact that many individuals fail to seek medical attention after injury. -NATA

SIGNS & SYMPTOMS

Student-athletes who show or report one or more of the signs or symptoms listed below, after a bump, blow, or jolt to the head or body, may have a concussion or a more serious brain injury

CONCUSSION SIGNS OBSERVED

Can't recall events prior to or after a hit or fall
Appears dazed or stunned
Forgets an instruction, is confused about an assignment or position, or is unsure of the game, score, or opponent.
Moves clumsily.
Answers questions slowly.
Loses consciousness (even briefly).
Shows mood, behavior, or personality changes.

CONCUSSION SINGS REPORTED

Headache or “pressure” in head.
Nausea or vomiting.
Balance problems or dizziness, or double or blurry vision.
Bothered by light or noise.
Feeling sluggish, hazy, foggy, or groggy.
Confusion, or concentration or memory problems.
Just not “feeling right,” or “feeling down”.

Signs and symptoms generally show up soon after the injury. However, you may not know how serious the injury is at first and some symptoms may not show up for hours or days. For example, in the first few minutes your child might be a little confused or a bit dazed, but an hour later your child might not be able to remember how he or she got hurt.

You should continue to check for signs of concussion right after the injury and in the hours and days after the injury. If your child's concussion signs or symptoms get worse, you should take him or her to the emergency department right away.

DANGER SIGNS

In rare cases, a dangerous collection of blood (hematoma) may form on the brain after a bump, blow, or jolt to the head or body that may squeeze the brain against the skull. Call 9-1-1 right away, or take your child or teen to the emergency department if he or she has one or more of the following danger signs after a bump, blow, or jolt to the head or body

DANGER SIGNS OF A CONCUSSION

One pupil larger than the other.
Drowsiness or inability to wake up.
A headache that gets worse and does not go away.
Slurred speech, weakness, numbness, or decreased coordination.
Repeated vomiting or nausea, convulsions or seizures (shaking or twitching).
Unusual behavior, increased confusion, restlessness, or agitation.
Loss of consciousness (passed out/knocked out). Even a brief loss of consciousness should be taken seriously.

Information on the page was obtained from the Center for Disease Control and Prevention and the National Athletic Trainers Association

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