Embedded Files
Concussion information
Concussion information
The following documents are necessary for ALL participants in youth sports to read and sign BEFORE they may participate in any practice or game, signing off on these documents is completed during the registration process online.
For additional information, please visit the Wisconsin Department of Public Instruction's website on Concussion and Head Injury and Sudden Cardiac Arrest.
What is a Concussion?
What is a Concussion?
A concussion is a type of traumatic brain injury that interferes with normal functioning of the brain (changes how the cells in the brain normally work). A concussion can be caused by a bump, blow, or jolt to the head or body. Any force that is transmitted to the head causing the brain to bounce around or twist within the skull can result in a concussion. Over 90% of concussions do not involve loss of consciousness. It is important to note that a concussion can happen in any sport or athletic activity.
Concussion affects people in four areas of function:
Physical – This describes how a person may feel: headache, fatigue, nausea, vomiting, dizziness, etc.
Thinking – Poor memory and concentration, responds to questions more slowly, asks repetitive questions. Concussion can cause an altered state of awareness.
Emotions - A concussion can make a person more irritable and cause mood swings.
Sleep – Concussions frequently cause changes in sleeping patterns, which can increase fatigue.
What is Sudden Cardiac Arrest?
What is Sudden Cardiac Arrest?
Sudden cardiac arrest is a condition in which the heart suddenly stops beating. When that happens, blood stops flowing to the brain and other vital organs. If it is not treated, sudden cardiac arrest usually causes death within minutes. But quick treatment with a defibrillator may be lifesaving. A heart attack is different from a sudden cardiac arrest. A heart attack happens when blood flow to the heart is blocked. During a heart attack, the heart usually does not suddenly stop beating. With sudden cardiac arrest, the heart stops beating.
The heart has an electrical system that controls the rate and rhythm of the heartbeat. A sudden cardiac arrest can happen when the heart's electrical system is not working right and causes irregular heartbeats. Irregular heartbeats are called arrhythmias. There are different types. They may cause the heart to beat too fast, too slow, or with an irregular rhythm. Some can cause the heart to stop pumping blood to the body; this is the type that causes sudden cardiac arrest.
What are the Warning Signs of Sudden Cardiac Arrest?
What are the Warning Signs of Sudden Cardiac Arrest?
Usually, the first sign of SCA is loss of consciousness (fainting). This happens when the heart stops beating.
Some people may have a racing heartbeat or feel dizzy or light-headed just before they faint. And sometimes people have chest pain, shortness of breath, nausea, or vomiting in the hour before they have a sudden cardiac arrest
Sudden cardiac arrest happens without warning and requires emergency treatment. Sudden cardiac arrest is an emergency. A person having sudden cardiac arrest needs to be treated with a defibrillator right away. A defibrillator is a device that sends an electric shock to the heart. The electric shock can restore a normal rhythm to a heart that has stopped beating. To work well, it needs to be done within minutes of the sudden cardiac arrest.
Sources & Additional Information:
Page updated
Google Sites
Report abuse