Ohio Concussion Law

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 CHILDREN OR TEENS SAFE?

Sports are a great way for children and teens to stay healthy and can help them do well in school. To help lower your child or teen’s chances of getting a concussion or other serious brain injury, you should:

• Help create a culture of safety for the team.
• Work with their coach to teach ways to lower the chances of getting a concussion.
• Talk with your children or teens about concussions and ask if they have concerns about reporting a concussion. Talk with them about their concerns; emphasize the importance of reporting concussions (whether their own or a teammate’s) and taking time to recover from one.
• Ensure that they follow instructions for safety and the rules of the sport given by coaches and umpires.
• Tell your children or teens that you expect them to practice good sportsmanship at all times.
• When appropriate for the sport or activity, teach your children or teens 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 children and teens to avoid hits to the head and exercise caution to avoid hitting someone else in the head.
• Teach your children or teens that when swinging a bat or similar object, they should first check that players, coaches, umpires, parents, and other spectators are not within reach of the bat prior to swinging to avoid striking others and potentially causing injury.
• Teach your children or teens that when throwing a ball or similar object, they should ensure that the person is aware that the ball or object will be thrown to them to avoid striking others and potentially causing injury.

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 or wobbly or staggers.
• Answers questions slowly.
• Loses consciousness (even briefly).
• Shows mood, behavior, or personality changes (i.e., temper tantrums, depression, lack of interest in normal activities).
• Lack of appetite and/or changes in eating and sleeping patterns.
• Can’t recall events prior to or after a hit or fall.
• Eyes appear unequal.
• Excessive crying or inconsolable after a hit or fall.
• Vomiting.

Symptoms Reported by Children and Teens

• Headache or “pressure” in head.
• Nausea or vomiting.
• Balance problems or dizziness, or double or blurry vision. 
• Sensitivity to light or noise.
• Feeling sluggish, hazy, foggy, or groggy.
• Confusion, or concentration or memory problems, overly irritable, cannot recognize people and places.
• Just not “feeling right,” or “feeling down.”
• Slurred or “drunken” speech.
• Weakness or numbness in arms and legs.
• Loss of consciousness.

Talk with your children and teens about concussions. Tell them to report their concussion symptoms to you and their coach immediately. 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 (known as post-concussion syndrome). Talk with your children or teen’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 immediately 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 Child or Teen Has a Possible Concussion? As a parent, if you think your child or teen may have a concussion, you should:

1. Remove your child or teen from play immediately.
2. Keep your child or teen out of play the day of the injury. Your child or teen should be seen by a healthcare provider and only return to play with permission from a healthcare provider who is experienced in evaluating concussions and brain injuries.
3. Ask your child or teen’s healthcare provider for written instructions on helping your child or teen return to school and the playing field. You can give the return-to-play instructions to the coach and the BBA Compliance Committee.

Do not try to judge the severity of a head or brain injury yourself. Only a healthcare provider should assess a child or teen for a possible concussion or brain injury. Concussion signs and symptoms often show up soon after the injury, though some may not appear until 24 to 48 hours later. You may not know how serious the concussion is, and should seek the opinion and advice of your child or teen’s healthcare provider. The brain needs time to heal after a concussion. A child or teen’s return to school and sports should be a gradual process that is carefully managed and monitored by a healthcare provider.

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