3.2. Parent Notification and Approval3.2.1.
Each school year, school administration shall assign or delegate
responsibility to the athletic director, assistant administrator,
teacher, coach, etc. to obtain parents/guardians signature for all
students participating in an athletic program. Each
parent/guardian must sign an acknowledgement that they fully understand
the information in the brochure provided by Washington County School
District regarding the risks of head injuries and concussion.
3.2.2.
Students may not participate in any covered activity, tryout,
camp, practice, game, or competition until the signed parent/guardian
acknowledgement form is returned and on file at the school.
3.3. Recognition of Concussion or Head Injury:A
student or athlete shall be suspected of suffering a concussion or head
injury if any of the following symptoms are observed arising from
possible blunt trauma, acceleration of force or deceleration of force.
3.3.1. Transient confusion, disorientation, or impaired responsiveness;
3.3.2. Dysfunction of memory;
3.3.3. Loss of responsiveness/consciousness; or
3.3.4. Signs of other neurological or neuropsychological dysfunction, including:
• seizures;
• irritability;
• lethargy;
• vomiting;
• headache;
• dizziness;
• fatigue;
3.3.5. Staff has reason to believe above symptoms are manifested when the athlete or student:
• Forgets plays or demonstrates short term memory difficulty.
• Exhibits difficulties with balance or coordination.
• Answers questions slowly or inaccurately.
• Exhibits balance problems or dizziness.
• Complains of double vision or changes in vision.
• Notices sensitivity to light or sound/noise.
• Feels sluggish or foggy.
• Has difficulty with concentration and short term memory.
• Demonstrates a vacant stare (befuddled facial expression)
• Exhibits delayed verbal and motor responses (slow to answer questions or follow instructions)
•
Is confused or is unable to focus attention (easily distracted
and unable to follow through with normal activities)
• Is disoriented (walling in the wrong direction; unaware of time, date and place)
• Has slurred or incoherent speech (making disjointed or incomprehensible statements)
• Exhibits emotions out of proportion to circumstances (distraught, crying for no apparent reason)
•
Demonstrates memory deficits (exhibited by the athlete repeatedly
asking the same question that has already been answered, or inability
to memorize and recall 3 of 3 words, or 3 of 3 objects in 5
minutes)
• Has any period of loss of consciousness (paralytic coma, unresponsiveness to arousal)
The following situations indicate a medical emergency and require
emergency medical assistance. The student should be transported
immediately to the nearest emergency department via emergency vehicle:
3.4.1. Any student with a witnessed loss of responsiveness/consciousness of any duration.
3.4.2. Any student who has symptoms of a concussion, and who is not stable (i.e., condition is worsening).
3.4.3. A student who exhibits any of the following symptoms.
• Deterioration of neurological function
• Decreasing level of responsiveness
• Decrease or irregularity in respirations
• Any signs or symptoms of associated injuries, spine or skull fracture, or bleeding
• Mental status changes: lethargy, difficulty maintaining arousal, confusion or agitation
• Seizure activity
3.5.1.
A student who is symptomatic but stable may be transported by his
or her parents. The parents should be advised to contact the student’s
primary care provider or seek care at the nearest emergency department
on the day of the injury.
3.5.2. All student
participants in any activity covered by this policy that are suspected
of suffering a concussion or head injury will be immediately removed
from any covered activity during a tryout, camp, practice, game, or
competition and not return to participate until cleared, in writing, by
a health care professional trained in the evaluation and management of
concussions.
3.5.3. The coach, teacher,
or program supervisor shall immediately notify school administration if
a student is suspected of suffering from a concussion or head injury.
3.5.4. Administration, or their designee, shall personally notify the parent/guardian
and give him/her a copy of the
Post Concussion Instructions and Return to Play Clearance Form:
http://www.uhsaa.org/new/images/forms/ConcussionReleaseForm.pdfIn the event that a student’s parent(s) cannot be reached, and the student is able to be sent home:
3.5.4.1. The administrator or designee must not
allow the student to drive himself/herself home. The student must
be with a responsible individual who is capable of monitoring the
student and understanding the home care instructions before allowing
the student to go home.
3.5.4.2. The
administrator or designee should continue efforts to reach a parent. If
there is any question about the status of the student, or if the
student cannot be monitored appropriately, the student should be
referred to an Emergency Department for evaluation. The administrator
or designee should accompany the student and remain with the student
until a parent arrives.
3.6.1.
Pursuant to UCA § 26-53-301, the student must obtain the approval
of a qualified Health Care Professional before s/he is allowed to
return to play in any athletic program. The Health Care Professional
must sign a
UHSAA Concussion Return to Play Clearance Form to document the authorization. The form is available on line at:
http://www.uhsaa.org/new/images/forms/ConcussionReleaseForm.pdf3.6.2.
The attending Health Care Professional must certify successful
completion of a continuing education course in the evaluation and
management of concussions.
3.6.3. If the
Health Care Professional certifies the student did NOT sustain a
concussion, then the student may be released to return to play in the
sport.
3.6.4. If the Health Care
Professional certifies the student did sustain an injury, then the
student must progress through the following Return to Play Protocol
(RTPP):
3.7.1. UHSAA Concussion Return to Play Clearance Form
outlines the RTPP Procedures: The student’s return to activity
and play is a medical decision. The student must meet all steps in the
Protocol as prescribed and supervised by the authorized Heath Care
Professional.
3.7.2. Progression is
individualized and will be determined on a case-by-case basis. Factors
that may affect the rate of progression include: previous history of
concussion, duration and type of symptoms, age of the student, and
sport/activity in which the student participates. An athlete/student
with a prior history of concussion, one who has had an extended
duration of symptoms, or one who is participating in a collision or
contact sport may be progressed more slowly.
3.7.3.
Progression to activity will not be allowed until authorized by
the attending Health Care Professional to “return to play.”
3.8. Possible Temporary Transitional Accommodations for Student-Athletes with Sports-Related Head Injuries 3.8.1.
Rest is the best “medicine” for healing concussions or other head
injuries. The concussed brain is affected in many functional aspects as
a result of the injury. Memory, attention span, concentration and speed
of processing significantly impacts learning. Further, exposing the
concussed student-athlete to the stimulating school environment may
delay the resolution of symptoms needed for recovery. Accordingly,
consideration of the cognitive effects in returning to the classroom is
also an important part of the treatment of sports-related concussions
and head injuries.
3.8.2. Mental exertion
increases the symptoms from concussions and affects recovery. To
recover, cognitive rest is just as important as physical rest. Reading,
studying, computer usage, testing, texting – even watching movies if a
student is sensitive to light/sound – can slow a student's
recovery. In accordance with the Centers for Disease
Control's toolkit on managing concussions, boards of education may look
to address the student’s cognitive needs in the following ways.
3.8.3. Students who return to school after a concussion may need to:
1. Take rest breaks as needed.
2. Spend fewer hours at school.
3. Be given more time to take tests or complete assignments. (All courses should be considered)
4. Receive help with schoolwork.
5. Reduce time spent on the computer, reading, and writing.
6. Be granted early dismissal to avoid crowded hallways.