Overview
The
Longwood Athletic Program recognizes that concussions
and head injuries are a commonly reported injury
in children and adolescents who participate in sports
and recreational activity. Therefore, the district
adopts the following guidelines to assist in the
proper evaluation and management of head injuries.
Concussion
is a mild traumatic brain injury. Concussions occur
when normal brain functioning is disrupted by a
blow or jolt to the head. Recovery from concussion
will vary. Avoiding re-injury and over-exertion
until fully recovered are the cornerstones of proper
concussion management.
Any student demonstrating signs, symptoms or behaviors
consistent with a concussion while participating
in interscholastic athletic activity will be removed
from the game or activity and be evaluated immediately
and will not return to play that day. The Longwood
Central School District will notify the student’s
parents or guardians and recommend appropriate monitoring.
Concussion
Management Team
The
Longwood Central School District will assemble a
concussion management team (CMT). The CMT will consist
of the athletic director, school nurse, athletic
trainer, school physician, and/or outside consultants
as deemed necessary. The District’s CMT will
coordinate the training for all coaches, parents
and students.
Longwood
Central Schools Concussion Management Plan
The
concussion program consists of five components:
- Education
- Baseline
neurocognitive testing using the IMPACT product*
- Proper
sideline management/guidelines
- Proper
Emergency Room follow-up
- Proper
Return to Play Protocol/Clearance
*
If the student were given the baseline test this information
will be utilized to help determine their return to
play. School Physician will still need to approve
the student to return to play.
Education:
The
Longwood Central Schools will provide a course of
instruction relating to the recognition of symptoms
of concussions and monitoring and seeking proper
medical treatment for students who suffer such injuries.
The course must include, but not be limited to the
following content: the definition of a concussion;
signs and symptoms of mild traumatic brain injuries
and how such injuries may occur; practices regarding
prevention; and guidelines for return to school
activities after a pupil has suffered a concussion.
The course is required to be completed on a biennial
basis and shall be given to all school coaches,
nurses, physical education teachers and athletic
trainers. N.Y. Education Law 305(42)(a)( ii)
This
education program can be provided by representatives
of Orthopedic Associates of Long Island, St. Charles
Hospital, trained school district representatives,
Longwood’s chief medical officer(s), or NYSED/NYSPHSAA approved courses.
Public
Information:
Information
relating to concussions will be posted on the school
districts website. Additionally, information regarding
where to locate information relating to concussion
symptoms and return to play protocol will be included
with the parent/guardian consent form required for
a student’s participation in interscholastic
sports.
Baseline Neurocognitive Testing (IMPACT) :
This
testing is what allows for OBJECTIVE measurement
of severity of injury and extent of return of function
after a concussion is sustained. It is an approximately
30 minute computer based test that is administered
to athletes who participate in contact/collision
sports (Football, Soccer, Wrestling, Competitive
Cheerleading and Lacrosse) before their athletic
season starts. Baseline testing is performed once
every two years. It measures several subtle aspects
of brain function. The software utilized is IMPACT.
This is the same software used by the NFL, NHL,
and MLB. It allows for testing of athletes 12-65
years of age. This portion of the program is being
sponsored by St. Charles Hospital. They will arrange
for a block of baseline tests to be purchased from
IMPACT. The baseline tests would then be administered
in the school district computer labs. District based
personnel will be trained on how to proctor the
testing. The data is then stored on an internet
based server. Access to the data is only granted
by the school district and the parents. It is recommended
that only personnel prepared to process this data
be allowed access to it. If a student isn’t
baseline tested all other return to play procedures
will be implemented to ensure a safe return to activity.
Proper
Sideline Management:
Coaches,
athletic trainers, and school physicians will be
trained on the proper guidelines for removing a
student-athlete from play. As per the NYSPHSAA regulation
any student removed from play because of suspected
head injury cannot return to play on that day unless
cleared by the school medical officer(s) approved
by the Longwood Central School District.
Proper
Emergency Room Evaluation:
It
is imperative that an athlete who sustains a head
injury be seen by trained medical officer familiar
with concussion signs and symptoms. St. Charles
Hospital is the only pediatric traumatic brain injury
unit on Long Island. As part of the comprehensive
concussion plan, all ER personnel at the hospital
have in serviced on the most up-to-date information
on concussions. Also as part of the program, the
ER physicians would have access to the baseline
IMPACT data to be used at the emergency room if
necessary. It is therefore suggested that student-athletes
be directed to St. Charles Hospital for evaluation
if emergency room care is needed.
Proper
Return to Play Protocol and Clearance:
Once
a student-athlete is diagnosed with a concussion,
they should only be cleared back to athletics by
an IMPACT certified physician. In addition to the
Longwood Central School Districts Chief Medical
Officer “Chief Medical Officers for Concussion”
Have been appointed to allow our athletes access
to a team of physicians that are certified concussion
specialists.
No student should return to full athletics before
going through a return-to-play protocol. This is
usually a 3-5 day supervised program. Return to
play following a concussion involves a stepwise
progression once the individual is symptom free.
There are many risks to premature return to play
including: a greater risk for a second concussion
because of a lower concussion threshold, second
impact syndrome (abnormal brain blood flow that
can result in death), exacerbation of any current
symptoms, and possibly increased risk for additional
injury due to alteration in balance. No student
/athlete should return to play while symptomatic.
Students are prohibited from returning to play the
day the concussion is suspected. If there is any
doubt as to whether a student has sustained a concussion,
it should be treated as a concussion! (When in doubt
sit them out.)
The
following criteria will be utilized before any athlete
is cleared to return to play:
- Asymptomatic
during rest
- Asymptomatic
during exertion
- Acceptable
signs on IMPACT neurological testing
The
athletic trainer and nurse will oversee return to
play protocol with the chief medical officer or
the concussion certified physician. Final return
to play decisions will be made by a Concussion Certified
Physician and/or Chief Medical Officer.