Cover story
Heads Up
New Maine law changes the concussion discussion “It was one of the most terrifying things that I’ve witnessed.
Right when it happened he was completely out of it, he was throwing up, he looked like he was on drugs. His eyes were all glassed over.” Feeling helpless, Jamie Watson rushed her son to the emergency room, learning then he had a concussion…something she’s been trained to deal with as a physical education teacher and girls’ soccer and softball coach. “All educators need to take concussions seriously. You can do a lot of damage if it is not taken seriously and you continue to play a sport or use bright lights and electronics you can do more damage. At this age when their brains are still forming you can never be too careful,” said Watson.
Concussions on the rise Most concussions occur without a loss of consciousness and according to the Centers for Disease Control children and teens are more likely to get a concussion and take longer to recover than adults. According to a study published in The American Journal of Sports Medicine, the rate of concussions in U.S. high school athletes more than doubled between 2005 and 2012. According to the research published, concussions in high school sports were reported in seven sports including football, soccer, wrestling, softball, baseball and volleyball; football recorded the highest rate of concussions. The Department of Education is in the process of analyzing its own concussion data as part of a new survey of Maine nurses in an effort to understand both the scope of the issue and how to provide necessary support in light of a new state law about traumatic brain injuries and “A lot of our students will schools. The 2014-15 school year is the first full year where all Maine schools are required to say their head hurts. That’s have in place and implement one of the symptoms that policies surrounding the management of concussions lingered the most...the and other head injuries. headache,” said Jamie Watson, Registered Nurse and Maine South Portland EA, Physical Education School Nurse Consultant A concussion is a type of Nancy Dube says even with teacher and coach. brain injury that changes the new policies, which can way the brain normally works. include a concussion policy A concussion is caused by a management team in schools to ensure training is taking place and education about bump, blow, or jolt to the head. the issue, it is not possible to prevent concussions. However, according to Dube, all Concussions can also occur from educators should “try and build a safety net” for students who suffer a head injury. a blow to the body that causes the “Their brain is bruised, it is damaged, it needs time to heal. Everybody wants the head and brain to move rapidly back fix—‘this is going to protect our children’—that’s just not true. Instead, education and forth. Even what seems to be a mild is our key thing and getting people resources and the tools to manage concussions. bump to the head can be serious. It’s concussion management that will hopefully reduce the chance of concussion,” Concussions can have a more serious effect says Dube. on a young, developing brain and need to be Managing Concussions addressed correctly. “Let’s go guys. Let’s go!” Source: Centers for Disease Control and Prevention It’s 83 degrees. The sun is blaring. Still, captain and quarterback Zach Dubiel
WHAT IS A
CONCUssION?
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Maine Educator • October 2014
