1. S PORTS C ONCUSSION W HAT ’ S THE F UTURE H OLD ?

3. W HAT IS A C ONCUSSION ? A Concussion is a brain injury. It can be caused by a bump or jolt to the head. Concussions can also occur from a blow to the body that causes the head to move rapidly back Even a “ding,” “getting your bell rung,” or what seems to be a mild bump or blow to the head can be serious.

4. C ONCUSSIONS IN S PORTS An estimated 3.8 million sports- and recreation-related brain injuries occur in the U.S. each year. Most of these are concussions.

5. D ID Y OU K NOW ? Each year, U.S. emergency departments treat an estimated 135,000 sports- and recreation-related TBIs, including concussions, among children ages 5 to 18. Athletes who have ever had a concussion are at increased risk for another concussion. Children and teens are more likely to get a concussion and take longer to recover than adults.

6. D ID Y OU K NOW ? Concussions typically do NOT appear in neuroimaging studies such as MRI or CAT Scans. During 2001-2005, children and youth ages 5–18 years accounted for 2.4 million sports related emergency department (ED) visits annually, of which 6% (135,000) involved a concussion. Of all traumatic brain injuries sustained by children and adults in the United States each year, at least 75% are mild concussions.

7. Among children and youth ages 5–18 years, the five leading sports or recreational activities which account for concussions include: Bicycling Football Basketball Playground Activities Soccer

8. C ONCUSSION G UIDELINES FOR S ECONDARY S CHOOL S PORTS An athlete who reports or displays any symptoms or signs of a concussion in a practice or game setting should be removed immediately from the practice or the game. The athlete should not be allowed to return to the practice or the game for the remainder of the day regardless of whether the athlete appears or states that he or she is now normal. The athlete should be evaluated by a licensed, qualified medical professional working within the scope of practice as soon as can be practically arranged. If an athlete has sustained a concussion, the athlete should be referred to a licensed physician, preferably one with experience in managing sports concussion injuries.

9. The athlete who has been diagnosed with a concussion should be returned to play only after full recovery and clearance by a physician. Recovery from a concussion, regardless of loss of consciousness usually takes 7-14 days after resolution of all symptoms. Return to play after a concussion should be gradual and follow a progressive return to competition. An athlete should not return to a competitive game before demonstrating that he or she has no symptoms in a full supervised practice. Athletes should not continue to practice or return to play while still having symptoms of a concussion. Sustaining an impact to the head while recovering from a concussion may cause Second Impact Syndrome, a catastrophic neurological brain injury.

10. Z ACKERY L YSTEDT L AW H OUSE B ILL 1824 The new law (House Bill 1824), known as the Zackery Lystedt Law, requires medical clearance of youth athletes suspected of sustaining a concussion, before sending them back in the game, practice or training. The new law is the most comprehensive return-to- play law in the United States for athletes under 18.

13. W HAT IS THE BIA OF MS? The Brain Injury Association of Mississippi, created in 1987, is a private, non–profit corporation serving people with traumatic brain injury and spinal cord injury, their families and the community. The Association is a state affiliate of the Brain Injury Association of America. We are funded through grants, donations, membership dues and special events.

14. M ISSION S TATEMENT “The mission of the Brain Injury Association of Mississippi is to enhance the quality of life for survivors of traumatic brain and spinal cord injuries and their families and to develop education and prevention programs about brain and spinal cord injury.”

15. For more information regarding sports concussion, please contact: Brain Injury Association of MS Post Office Box 55912 Jackson, MS 39296 601-981-1021 601-981-1039 www.msbia.org