A new state law outlining protocol for how school districts respond when a child sustains a concussion is helping parents get their head in the game.
The Concussion Management and Awareness Act, which took effect July 1, requires that all school coaches, athletic trainers, nurses and physical education teachers take a course on concussions. Students who are suspected to have a concussion must be immediately removed from activity and cannot return in less than 24 hours, and only after being cleared by a doctor.
Most local school districts have been living up to the new regulations for several years, although the law now makes the regulations the same across the board in New York state.
Perhaps the most important impact of this law — as well as similar laws passed in 30 other states — is that it will raise more awareness of concussion management, specifically for parents.
Many local school districts say they are boosting their communications with parents this year through such avenues as parent meetings and information posted on school district websites. The goal, they say, is to inform parents about the law and what to do when a student receives a head injury.
This mindset of teamwork is the best approach to protect our kids. After all, head injuries don’t only occur during sports practices and competitions — they can happen at anytime, including outside of school.
Coaches and gym teachers can’t have their eyes on students at all times, and many times it is up to the students to speak up when they experience concussion symptoms after falls or collisions. And often, students are unwilling to say when they aren’t feeling well, whether it be because they don’t want to be pulled out of the big game or don’t want to let their teammates down.
Parents see their kids outside of practice and can be best able to identify when something isn’t right — when their children are experiencing such symptoms as dizziness, confusion or headaches. But they can’t recognize the symptoms if they don’t know what they are, nor can they guide their children through the steps to ensure they are ready to return to the classroom and the field without experiencing any long-term damage. It often involves more than taking a day or two off of practice, and school districts have protocols in place to make sure that students have completely recovered before they are allowed to resume activity.
If this law is going to have a large impact in protecting students from head injuries, it is going to be up to the parents to stay informed and aware.
A new state law outlining protocol for how school districts respond when a child sustains a concussion is helping parents get their head in the game.
The Concussion Management and Awareness Act, which took effect July 1, requires that all school coaches, athletic trainers, nurses and physical education teachers take a course on concussions. Students who are suspected to have a concussion must be immediately removed from activity and cannot return in less than 24 hours, and only after being cleared by a doctor.
Most local school districts have been living up to the new regulations for several years, although the law now makes the regulations the same across the board in New York state.
Perhaps the most important impact of this law — as well as similar laws passed in 30 other states — is that it will raise more awareness of concussion management, specifically for parents.
Many local school districts say they are boosting their communications with parents this year through such avenues as parent meetings and information posted on school district websites. The goal, they say, is to inform parents about the law and what to do when a student receives a head injury.
This mindset of teamwork is the best approach to protect our kids. After all, head injuries don’t only occur during sports practices and competitions — they can happen at anytime, including outside of school.
Coaches and gym teachers can’t have their eyes on students at all times, and many times it is up to the students to speak up when they experience concussion symptoms after falls or collisions. And often, students are unwilling to say when they aren’t feeling well, whether it be because they don’t want to be pulled out of the big game or don’t want to let their teammates down.
Parents see their kids outside of practice and can be best able to identify when something isn’t right — when their children are experiencing such symptoms as dizziness, confusion or headaches. But they can’t recognize the symptoms if they don’t know what they are, nor can they guide their children through the steps to ensure they are ready to return to the classroom and the field without experiencing any long-term damage. It often involves more than taking a day or two off of practice, and school districts have protocols in place to make sure that students have completely recovered before they are allowed to resume activity.
If this law is going to have a large impact in protecting students from head injuries, it is going to be up to the parents to stay informed and aware.
