Help Your Kids to Play It Safe

The NCAA estimates that one in five high school football players sustains a concussion each season. That’s a total of more than 250,000 concussions annually.

If you suspect that your child has sustained a concussion during a game, consult a doctor. Don’t be afraid to insist that your children stop playing if you think they have a concussion.

Be sure your young athletes:

• wear proper equipment

• have helmets that fit properly

• use shock absorbing mouthpieces.

• follow the rules of the game

And:

Check that your child’s coaches and trainers know the signs of concussion. Do they have the Standardized Assessment of Concussion Manual for Administration, Scoring, and Interpretation? The Brain Injury Association designed this guide to help athletic trainers, physicians, and other personnel detect concussion in athletes and to assist them in "return to play" decisions. For more information on this manual, contact the Brain Injury Association at 703-236-6000.