Back to school, back to concussions

Can you believe how fast 2014 is going? Yesterday it seemed like winter would never end and now we’re in August. As stores begin sending summer clothes to clearance and unveiling back to school wardrobes, the need to be vigilant about brain injuries in children continues to grow.

When school ended in June, I heard a story about a young girl and an accident she had during recess. The teacher alerted the students it was time to come inside, and as she ran toward the line of students, she collided with a classmate and both girls hit the ground. The jarring caused her to receive a concussion, making her miss the last day of school and hours of online and outdoor fun with her friends due to the lasting symptoms.

Concussions in professional and collegiate football receive a lot of attention due to the violent nature of the game and helmet-to-helmet contact that can cause severe damage to the brain, but what about youth sports and activities? Many youth football programs around the United States are limiting practices and hits to keep the kids safer, but the danger doesn’t end there.

Any contact, even running into someone at recess, can cause a concussion. Brain injuries affect children more because of their still-developing brains, making the threat more terrifying.

Each year, an average of 62,000 children ages 0 to 19 require hospital treatment after a head injury from a car accident, sports or falling, among other causes. More than half a million children are taken the emergency room each year for a traumatic brain injury and released.

Keep your children safe! While you can’t stay with them every second of the day, you can control certain aspects of their life. Make sure your children are in the proper car seat for their age and wearing their seatbelts. Helmets can’t prevent a head injury, but one that fits properly can lessen the severity. Remind your children to play nice and avoid being unnecessarily aggressive when playing.

Most importantly- know the risks! It may not be as obvious as your child becoming unconscious. Any changes in balance, fatigue, speech, vision or coordination may indicate a concussion. Additionally, any memory issues, headaches or dizziness after a rough contact may be a warning sign.

As your children begin playing football or soccer or participating in cheerleading, remember traumatic brain injuries don’t discriminate. Enjoy the back to school season safely!

Footnotes

BIAA. (2014). Brain injury in children. [Link]

CDC. (2014). Traumtic brain injury in the United States: Fact sheet. [Link]

Rocketto, L. (2014). When kids collide: The truth about concussions. Pop Sugar. [Link]