WisconsinConcussionFactSheetforAthletes
Assess the situation
Bealertfor signsand symptoms
Contacta healthcare provider
Whatarethesignsandsymptoms ofaconcussion?
Unlikea broken arm,youcan’tseeaconcussion.Most
concussionsoccurwithoutlossofconsciousness.Signs
Whatisaconcussion?
Aconcussionisatypeofbraininjurythatchanges thewaythebrainnormallyworks.Aconcussionis
causedbyabump,blow,orjolttothehead.Concussions canalsooccurfromablowtothebodythatcauses the headandbraintomoverapidlybackandforth.Evenwhat seemstobeamildbumptotheheadcanbeserious. Concussionscanoccurduringpracticesorgamesin any
sportorrecreationalactivity.
andsymptoms ofconcussioncanshowuprightafteraninjury ormaynotappearorbenoticeduntilhoursordaysafterthe injury.Itisimportanttowatch forchangesinhowyouare feeling,ifsymptomsaregettingworse,orifyoujust“don’tfeel right.”Ifyouthinkyouorateammatemayhaveaconcussion,itis importanttotellsomeone.
COMMONSYMPTOMS OFACONCUSSION:
Tellsomeoneif yousee ateammateTellsomeoneifyoufeelanyof thefollowing:
withanyof thesesymptoms:
• Appearsdazedorstunned
• Forgets sports plays
• Isconfusedaboutassignment orposition
• Movesclumsily
• Answersquestionsslowly
• Repeatsquestions
• Can’trecalleventspriorto thehit,bump,orfall
• Can’trecalleventsafterthe
hit,bump,orfall
• Losesconsciousness
(evenbriefly)
• Showsbehaviororpersonality changes
Thinking/Remembering:
• Difficultythinking clearly
• Difficultyconcentratingor remembering
• Feelingmoresloweddown
• Feelingsluggish,hazy,foggy,orgroggy
Physical:
• Headacheor“pressure”inhead
• Nauseaorvomiting
• Balanceproblemsordizziness
• Fatigueorfeelingtired
• Blurryordouble vision
• Sensitivitytolightornoise
• Numbnessortingling
• Doesnot“feelright”
Emotional:
• Irritable
• Sad
• Moreemotionalthan usual
• Nervous
Changes inyournormalsleep patterns.
Materialsadaptedfromthe U.S.Departmentof HealthandHumanServicesCentersforDiseaseControlandPrevention
*Weartheproper
equipmentforeachsport andmakesureitfitswell.
*Followtherulesofthe sportandthecoach’srule forsafety.
*Usepropertechnique.
If youhavea suspectedconcussion,you shouldNEVERreturntosportsor recreational activitiesonthesameday theinjuryoccurred.You shouldnot returntoactivitiesuntilyou are symptom-free and a health care provider experienced inmanaging concussion
provides written clearanceallowingreturn toactivity. Thismeans,untilpermitted, notreturningto:
•PhysicalEducation(PE) class,
•Sports conditioning, weight lifting, practicesandgames,or
•Physicalactivityatrecess.
Whatshouldyoudoifyou thinkyouhaveaconcussion?
1.Tellyourcoachesandparentsrightaway.Never ignoreabumporblowtotheheadevenifyoufeelfine. Ifyouexperiencesymptomsofaconcussion,you shouldimmediatelyremoveyourselffrompractice/play. Tellyourcoachrightawayifyouthinkyouoroneof yourteammatesmighthaveaconcussion.
2. Getevaluatedbyahealthcareprovider. A healthcareproviderexperiencedinevaluatingfor concussioncandetermineifyouhavea
concussion,helpguidemanagementandsafereturn tonormalactivities,includingschool(concentration andlearning)andphysicalactivity.Ifyouhavebeen removedfromayouthathleticactivitybecauseof a suspectedorconfirmedconcussionorheadinjury youmaynotparticipateagainuntilevaluatedbya healthcareproviderandyoureceivewritten clearancetoreturntoactivity.Youmustprovide thiswrittenclearanceto yourcoach.
3. Giveyourselftimetogetbetter.Ifyou havehada concussion,yourbrainneedstotimetoheal.
Whileyourbrainisstillhealing,youaremuchmore likelytohavearepeatconcussion. Itisimportant
torestuntilyoureceivewritten clearancefroma healthcareprovidertoreturntopractice andplay.
Whyshouldyoutellsomeone aboutyoursymptoms?
1.Yourchancesofsustainingalifealtering injury are greatlyincreasedifyou aren’tfullyrecoveredfroma concussionorheadinjury.
2.Practicing/playingwith concussionsymptomscan prolongyourrecovery.
3. Practicing/playingwithaconcussioncanincrease yourchancesofgettinganotherconcussion.
4.Tellingsomeonecouldsaveyourlifeorthe lifeofa teammate!
Tellyour teachers
Tell yourteachersifyou havesufferedaconcussion orheadinjury. Concussionsoftenimpairschool performance.Inordertoproperlyrest,many students often needto missafew days ofschoolimmediatelyfollowingaconcussion.Whenyoureturntoschool afteraconcussionyoumayneedto:
• Takerestbreaksasneeded,
• Spendfewerhoursatschool,
• Havemoretimeallowedtotake testsorcompleteassignments,
• Suspend yourphysical activity(PEclass and/orrecess)
•Suspendyourextracurricularactivities(band, choir,dance,etc)
• Reducetimespentreading,writing,oron thecomputer.
Tolearn more about concussions,goto: