Concussions and You
Concussions are considered to be a mild form of a traumatic brain injury and the potential for their occurrence in children is greatest during activities where collisions can occur, such as during physical education (PE) class, playground time, or school-based sports activities (CDC, 2009). Recognition of a concussion and immediate assessment is critical in preventing further injury and for post-concussion management. Any force or blow to the head and/or symptoms of a concussion in a student or athlete should be evaluated immediately. A consensus statement approved by the 3rd International Conference on Concussion states that, although most people recover quickly and fully from a concussion, the time needed is often slower among young children and teens (McCrory et al., 2009). During this recovery phase, the student may have an array of physical, mental, and emotional symptoms, which can impact the student in the school setting. Children with diagnosed concussions require significant cognitive rest and a graduated re-entry plan to pre-concussion activities as determined by the licensed health care provider.
Brain healing is a paced process and cannot be hurried as the brain needs time to rest and repair itself.
Please click below for important information for dealing with concussions.
Educational Material for Parents and Students from the Michigan Department of Community Health