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Spring Grove Youth Lacrosse holds monthly board meetings monthly at the Spring Grove VFW. Active members in good standing of Spring Grove Youth Lacrosse are welcome to attend board meetings. Please contact the board Secretary to confirm the meeting time and location.
Concussion Information
WHAT IS A CONCUSSION?
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 quickly back and forth. This fast movement can cause the brain to bounce around or twist in the skull, creating chemical changes in the brain and sometimes stretching and damaging the brain cells.
HOW CAN I HELP KEEP MY PLAYERS SAFE?
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HELP CREATE A CULTURE OF SAFETY FOR THE TEAM
As Coach, work with them to teach ways to lower the chances of getting a concussion.
Talk with your players about concussions and ask if they have concerns about reporting a concussion. Talk with them about their concerns; emphasize the importance of reporting concussions and taking time to recover from one.
Ensure that they follow the coach’s rules for safety and the rules of the sport.
Tell your players that you expect them to practice good sportsmanship at all times.
When appropriate for the sport or activity, teach your players that they must wear a helmet to lower the chances of the most serious types of brain or head injury.
However, there is no “concussion-proof” helmet. So, even with a helmet, it is important for players to avoid hits to the head.
HOW CAN I SPOT A POSSIBLE CONCUSSION?
Children and teens who show or report one or more of the signs and symptoms listed below—or simply say they just “don’t feel right” after a bump, blow, or jolt to the head or body—may have a concussion or other serious brain injury.
Signs Observed by Parents or Coaches
- 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.
- Can’t recall events prior to or after a hit or fall.
Symptoms Reported by Children and Teens
- Headache or “pressure” in the 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, concentration, or memory problems.
- Just not “feeling right,” or “feeling down.”
Talk with your players about concussions. Tell them to report their concussion symptoms to you and their parents/guardians right away. Some children and teens think concussions aren’t serious or worry that if they report a concussion they will lose their position on the team or look weak. Be sure to remind them that it’s better to miss one game than the whole season.
Concussions affect each child and teen differently. While most children and teens with a concussion feel better within a couple of weeks, some will have symptoms for months or longer. Parents should talk with the player's health care provider if their concussion symptoms do not go away or if they get worse after they return to their regular activities.
WHAT ARE SOME MORE SERIOUS DANGER SIGNS TO LOOK OUT FOR?
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 and can squeeze the brain against the skull. Call 9-1-1 or take your child or teen to the emergency department right away if, after a bump, blow, or jolt to the head or body, he or she has one or more of these danger signs:
- One pupil is 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.
- Children and teens who continue to play while having concussion symptoms or who return to play too soon—while the brain is still healing— have a greater chance of getting another concussion. A repeat concussion that occurs while the brain is still healing from the first injury can be very serious and can affect a child or teen for a lifetime. It can even be fatal.
WHAT SHOULD I DO IF MY PLAYER HAS A POSSIBLE CONCUSSION?
- Remove the player from play.
- Keep your player out of play the day of the injury. He/She should be seen by a health care provider and only return to play with permission from a health care provider who is experienced in evaluating for concussion.
- A player's parent should provide a written permission and return-to-play instructions from the medical provider that will allow for the player's return to the sport.
Do not try to judge the severity of the injury yourself. Only a healthcare provider should assess a child or teen for a possible concussion. Concussion signs and symptoms often show up soon after the injury. But you may not know how serious the concussion is at the time, and some symptoms may not show up for hours or days. The brain needs time to heal after a concussion. A child’s or teen’s return to school and sports should be a gradual process that is carefully managed and monitored by a healthcare provider.
To learn more, go to www.cdc.gov/HEADSUP