In an earlier post, James Richards comments on some of the issues surrounding concussions, kids, and sport.
A recent CNN article gives us more on the topic.
The article follows two high school athletes seriously injured while participating in their chosen sport.
Fourteen-year-old Brittany Noffke is left with a skull fracture, concussion, and brain bruising after a fall in cheerleading practice. Brittany and her family face incredible emotional, physical, and financial hardship for years after the fall.
High school footballer Chris Canales suffers a serious spinal cord injury during a game. Immobilized, Chris now uses a wheelchair after a challenging physical and psychological recovery.
“I never thought of cheerleaders as athletes. I didn’t realize the risk that these athletes face,†says Brittany’s mom.
“Someone injured on a professional level is going to be taken care of. But on a high school level, it’s a totally different story,†adds Chris’s dad.
An important theme in the article is the importance of concussion awareness. Brittany’s mom didn’t think such a serious injury possible in her daughter’s chosen sport. Chris’s father wasn’t prepared for the challenges post-injury.
The US Center for Disease Control and Prevention has rolled out a new initiative to help build awareness of concussions in youth sports. Called “Heads Up,†the online resource provides coaches, athletes, and parents with information to help prevent, recognize and respond to a concussion.
A major point noted on the Heads Up website: if you think your athlete has sustained a concussion, don’t assess it yourself. Take him/her out of play, and seek the advice of a health care professional.
For more information:
- Dealing with the aftermath of a serious high school sports injury, CNN U.S.
- Heads Up: Concussion in Youth Sports, Injury Prevention & Control: Traumatic Brain Injury, CDC
- Concussion, Kids & Sport, Slater Vecchio Connected
