Concussion & Sports Safety At Crafton Dental, we believe in helping to keep our community safe! A big part of safety is knowing what to do in case of certain scenarios or circumstances. When it comes to safety for children the subject of sports comes up a lot. Anytime that lots of little kids are running around, there is a chance that someone will get hurt, regardless of whether they are wearing a helmet or sports & mouthguard during the activity. Still, concussions are a serious medical issue that needs to be considered anytime a big collision happens with kids. Roughly 5-10% of children who participate in a sporting season will receive a concussion. Understanding how concussions happen and what to look for when they do can help to mitigate the negative effects tremendously.
The following information is provided by the National Collegiate Athletic Association and the Centers of Disease Control.
What is a Concussion?A concussion is a brain injury that:
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Shows up differently in every person
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Is caused by an impact to the head or body
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Can be caused by contact with another person, or by hitting an object like the ground, a bat, or other piece of sporting equipment
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Can alter the way the brain works
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Can range from mild to severe
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Can happen during practice, a game, even off the field
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You do not have to lose consciousness to experience a concussion |
How to Prevent a ConcussionTo protect yourself and your kids from a concussion you can take some simple steps:
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Never lead with the head or helmet to initiate contact
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Know that wearing a helmet helps to protect against concussions but does not mean you cannot receive a concussion
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Avoid hitting the head of another player. Any blow to the head, with any part of your body, can cause another person to receive a concussion.
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Always follow all safety guidelines and rules regarding safety and contact |
What are the Symptoms of a Concussion?A concussion can present itself in a lot of different ways, some of which may not be present right away. For this reason, if someone receives a blow to the head or body, make sure to have them sit down for a while as their symptoms may not be present immediately. Symptoms of a concussion include:
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Headache
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Problems balancing
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Amnesia
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Confusion
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Fainting or loss of consciousness
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Double vision or fuzzy vision
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Nausea or vomiting
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Feeling sluggish or tired
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Irritability
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Slow reaction times
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Issues concentrating |
What Should I do if I Have a Concussion?If you think you might have a concussion, make sure to tell someone right away. If you see someone else experience a significant blow, make sure to act on their behalf and notify someone in charge. Never ignore a blow to the head. Most sports today have rules and regulations regarding serious blows that may cause concussions, so just call a timeout and let your concerns be known.
Make sure to get checked out by your doctor. Do not return to play as this can exacerbate the issue. Recovery time is also important if you receive a concussion, make sure to take it easy.
For more information and resources, visit www.NCAA.org/health-safety and www.CDC.gov/Concussion.
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