Issue link: https://digital.copcomm.com/i/189657
NFL players bargained to eliminate "live contact" during off-season practice to reduce the risk of brain damage. The NCAA has been urged to follow suit. CLASSIFYING CONCUSSIONS • A concussion is caused by a blow to the head causing the brain to move rapidly inside the skull. • A repeat concussion before the brain recovers from the first concussion slows recovery and may cause long-term or permanent brain damage. • Repetitive head trauma/concussions can lead to permanent decrease in brain function including memory loss, nervous system problems and emotional problems. • No helmet is concussion-proof. Proper fit is imperative. • The cure is rest, abstaining from school, reading, TV, computer or exercise until a health care professional clears a student for activity. Frank Rodriguez, a school nurse and former high school football player, believes outdated, ill-fitting helmets, drills causing blindside "hits" to the head, not enough neck-strengthening exercises, and dehydration are factors, along with the public's demand for extreme sports. "Football is the ultimate warrior team sport, and it's a collision sport," says Rodriguez, Anaheim Elementary Education Association. "The athlete is mentored to think 'Winning isn't everything, it's the only thing.'" Students are starting sports at younger ages, and thanks to Title IX, many girls are participating in sports. Girls are more susceptible to concussions than boys. Athletes are also to blame: Half of high school football players say they would continue playing, even if they thought they had a concussion. Nearly half say they wouldn't report symptoms to their coach, despite knowing there are serious risks. N E W R U L E S PROTE CT ATH L ETES "When in doubt, sit them out." This means athletes showing signs of concussion should be removed immediately from play and not allowed to return until they have written clearance from a licensed health care provider trained in the evaluation and management of concussions and brain injuries. After the CDC adopted that motto, the CIF passed Bylaw 313 in 2010 with that exact language. The mandate is being taken seriously. "You send kids to the doctor, that's my bottom line," says Tyrone Brown, athletic director at Silverado High School, where he has coached girls' basketball and volleyball for years. PHOTOGRAPHY BY SCOTT BUSCHMAN Educator 10 Oct 2013 v2.1 int.indd 13 Outdated, ill-fitting helmets, drills causing blindside "hits" to the head, and not enough neck-strengthening exercises are some of the reasons for increased numbers of concussions, says Frank Rodriguez. During a warm-up last year, one of his students was hit by "friendly fire" when a volleyball player spiked a ball at her head. When the girl remained lethargic, Brown urged her mother to take her to a doctor. The diagnosis: concussion. Under AB 1451, passed in 2012, high school coaches receive online training every two years on how to recognize signs of concussions and respond appropriately. The training is important, says Brown, but doesn't diminish the importance of health care professionals, since educators are not medical experts. OCTOBER 201 3 www.cta.org 13 10/7/13 9:38 PM