CONCUSSIONS AND SPORTS

           A concussion is a traumatic brain injury! The Center for Disease Control estimates that 1.6 million to 3.8 million sports related traumatic brain injures (TBIs) occur each year. Estimates indicated that 85 % to 90 % of sports concussions are not recognized or reported.High school football players often do not report concussions for several reasons.

           The majority of concussions in competive sports were attributed to basketball, baseball, football and soccer. Girls competing in sports like basketball are more susceptible to concussions than boys are in the same sports. Female concussion rates in HS basketball are almost 3 times higher than boys rates.

           BRAIN INJURY CAN OCCUR EVEN IF THERE IS NO LOSS OF CONSCIOUSNESS. Loss of consciousness occurs in approximately only 10% of all concussions. Amnesia is 10 times more predictive than loss of consciousness predicting outcome following a concussion.

          Concussions are caused by a direct blow to the head, face, neck or elsewhere ti the body with a force transmitted to the head.

Research shows that it may take days, weeks, or even months to be symptom free following a concussion. Even when physical symptoms, such as headache, are gone, neurocognitive problems may remain! Fiction: The most pronounced symptoms following a concussion are usually seen within the first 24 hours following the injury. FACT: SYMPTOMS OFTEN INCREASE THE SECOND DAY FOLLOWING THE INJURY. Girls take longer than boys to recover from a concussion. An athlete with prior history of headaches or brain injury is more susceptible to concussion and a more prolonged recovery from concussion. Athletes with a previous concussion are more susceptible to another concussion.

Athletes who sustain a concusssion during play should never return to play during that game.

For more information on concussions and sports, please see the attached presentation given by Janet Tyler, PHD with the Kansas Instructional Support Network at the University of Kansas Medical Center.   ATTACHMENT IS AT BOTTOM OF PAGE.

SCHOOL MEDICATION POLICIES

Over-the Counter Medications:

Students are not allowed carry over-the-counter medications with them at school. The school nurse has a variety of over-the-counter medications on hand in her office which can be given to students whose parent/guardian has signed an over-the-counter medication consent form. These medications will only be given at the discretion of the school nurse or in her absence, a designated school staff person. Parents may send in additional over-the-counter medications but they must be accompanied by a written note with the name of the medication and directions for amount to give and time to give signed by the parent. If over-the-counter medication(s) are requested by a student during school hours, the medication(s) may only be given if an over-the-counter medication consent is on file in the school nurse's office. New forms have to be completed each school year.

 Prescription Medications:

All prescription medications to be taken at school must be accompanied by a written statement signed by the physician/health care provider and a written note signed by the parent/guardian. The written statement from the physician can be a note written on a prescription pad. All medication must be sent in the original container from the pharmacy with the prescription label on it. 

 All Medications:

Students in grades PreK through 5th grade bringing any medication to school should give the medication to their classroom teacher upon arrival at school. Teachers will give all medications to the school nurse or delegated staff person unless the teacher has been delegated by the school nurse to administer the medication. Students in middle school and high school bringing any medication to school should give the medication to the high school secretary upon arrival at school. The high school secretary will then give that medication to the school nurse.  Medications may only be administered by the school nurse or those school staff who have been delegated by the school nurse.

Joyce Jordan, RN, BSN

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