1. MICHIGAN’S SPORTS CONCUSSION LAW AND RESOURCES
mParks 2017 Conference and Trade Show
Grand Rapids, Michigan
January 31 – February 3, 2017

2. Sports Concussions www.michigan.gov/sportsconcussion
A concussion is a serious brain injury caused by a blow, bump or jolt to the head
It can occur in ANY sport or recreational activity
All concussions are serious!
CDC estimates 3.8 million sports and recreation-related concussions occur in the US annually
To start off, let’s get on the same page about what we’re talking about when we use the term concussion.
Do you have to have a blow to the head to have a concussion?
Do helmets prevent concussions?
Who has ever been told you’ve had a concussion? Who has ever had their bell rung?
The tricky thing about concussions is that (Dr. Kutcher’s example), and everyone will have a different recovery progression. We stopped saying that concussions are a mild TBI only a few years ago; we’re learning more about them all the time.

3. How did we get here? www.michigan.gov/sportsconcussion
Frontline’s “A League of Denial: The NFL’s Concussion Crisis”
Zack Lystedt Law first went into place in the
state of Washington:
A number of events occurred that really brought about these important national changes, some were unfortunate, including the death of Pittsburg Steeler Mike Webster in 1990, who was a part of the famed “iron curtain.” However, it was his autopsy and the NFL’s response to it that really brought this issue to the forefront. Many of you may be aware of the Hollywood story from a movie called “Concussion” starring Will Smith, but I highly recommend the Frontline version, which was called “A League of Denial: The NFL’s Concussion Crisis.” Then, a Tahoma, WA kid suffered a catastrophic injury in 2006 on the football field, named Zack Lystedt. The State of Washington was the first to put a sports concussion law like this in place in 2009, because of the experience this family had. His story is accessible on the web, too, and after this, the NFL actually got behind states getting similar legislation in place.

4. Governor Snyder signed the legislation on October 23, 2012
Michigan 39th state to enact a sports concussion law to protect young athletes
Governor Snyder signed the legislation on October 23, 2012
The law went into full effect on June 30, 2013
We’ve come a long way just in the past four years when Michigan’s law was signed – and it’s because of you-you are where the rubber hits the road on this; you are the promoters of safe play and healthy recreation. You are the voice of parents and coaches, and youth athletes, and the communities you take care of. Some of you might even have had a role in moving our state’s legislation forward. Before I get to far, I want to extend each of you a heartfelt thank you for the tremendous role you play as stewards of safe sports and play.

5. Michigan’s Law – Public Acts 342 and 343 of 2012
All adults engaged in youth sports must complete a
concussion awareness training program
The organizing entity must provide educational materials
on signs/symptoms and consequences of concussions to
parents/guardians and youth athletes
The law requires immediate removal of an athlete if a
concussion is suspected
So what does the law require? There is more detail in the statute than I am providing here, but there are three main components –
Training is required of all adults engaged in youth sports, and we have links to free training on our website.
The organizing entity for the athletic activity is obliged to collect and keep a signed statement from parents and youth athletes indicating they’ve received information on sports concussions from them.
Once an athlete has been removed from play, they can only return to physical activity only after they’ve received written clearance from an appropriate health professional. There are other parts of the law that include definitions for some of these terms as well.

6. Resources www.michigan.gov/sportsconcussion
Training – CDC offers free web-based training –
Just a reminder-the training isn’t only required for coaches – it’s for all adults engaged in youth sports, including volunteers. It’s also great information for parents, teachers, and the CDC has family and clinician-focused resources as well. They have all kinds of information pieces that can be customized with school or team logos – for you to use and share.

7. Resources – MDHHS web site
Links to the law and FAQs
Tools, information and forms to help communities comply
Information on sports concussions
Links to trainings
- and much more!

8. Post questions to #AskTheExpert on CDC’s new HEADS UP Facebook Activity will occur at 1 pm ET on the second Tuesday of every month Experts will answer questions about concussion and brain injury safety CDC cannot provide medical advice Facebook.com/CDCHEADSUP
You have access now to experts! The CDC just offered a brand new resource that will allow you to engage directly with experts on the second Tuesday of each month at 1:00 pm eastern time on Facebook. You can post questions to #AskTheExpert, and pan through other people’s questions and the responses. They cannot give medical advice.

9. Thank you! www.michigan.gov/sportsconcussion
Laura Rowen, MPH Injury Prevention Consultant Michigan Department of Health and Human Services (517)
Thank you! We’ll be around for questions after our session, but first, Tom Constand, the President of the Brain Injury Association of Michigan has more to share with you.