2018-19 DLS Concussion Management Policy

CONCUSSION MANAGEMENT POLICY A concussion is a unique type of injury as it has both a significant effect on one’s cognitive performance and a recovery timeline that is unpredictable and significantly influenced by presence of cognitive stressors. As more research is conducted and the injury is understood in greater detail, the school is seeing a trend in the medical community with regard to concussion treatment, specifically modifications to cognitive (academic) stressors. One of the initial treatments is a reduction in academic activity, whether in the form of school attendance, homework limitations, and/or testing restrictions. Unfortunately, since there is no predictable course/timeline for recovery, there is not a consistent treatment that the school is

seeing from physicians.

The school seeks to maintain continuity in the care for students with concussions and to ensure that theyare returning to learn in a progression/manner that is appropriate, individualized, and conducive torecovery.

Any student with a concussion (regardless of whether or not it is sustained during a De La Salle activity) must be referred to one of the two individuals on campus who have been designated as the school’s concussion management resources personnel: the Assistant Athletic Trainer or his School Counselor. After meeting with the student, one of these individuals will notify the student’s teachers of his injury as well as any specific accommodations that need to be made. More importantly, the school wants to ensure that the student has an identified person on campus that he can go to for help in his recovery process.

Please note: Our teachers are instructed to make accommodations for students with diagnosed concussions ONLY if they have been contacted by the Assistant Athletic Trainer or the School Counselors. This step is to help maintain our policy to ensure that the appropriate steps are implemented for a student’s successful recovery and return to learning.

8.9.1 Steps following Sustaining a Concussion:

1. Once a concussion is diagnosed or suspected by the Athletic Training staff, the parents should notify either the Assistant Athletic Trainer or the School Counselors by phone or email. One of them will notify the student’s teachers. Teachers will only be notified if the student has a note from his physician or has been seen by one of the school’s athletic trainers.

2. Upon returning to school, the student will check in daily with one of the aforementioned individuals who will monitor symptoms and progress toward recovery.

3. De La Salle encourages every concussed student to meet with the School Counselors to help with the return-to-learn process.

4. Any significant changes made by the doctor throughout the course of treatment need to be communicated (with a note from the physician) to the School Counselors.

5. Upon being cleared by the physician, the student MUST meet with the Assistant Athletic Trainer or the School Counselors so that teachers can be notified, by them, of the student’s full recovery.