Surgeon Sings Praises of Concussion Course

When some medically related educational material can impress a physician who also officiates, you know it must be good.

Such is the case with the HEADS UP to Sports Officials: Online Concussion Training course. The course was developed through a partnership between the Centers for Disease Control (CDC) and NASO to share the latest guidance on concussion safety and prevention. The training provides information to help sports officials spot possible concussion signs and symptoms that can help keep athletes safe.

Among those who took the course was Dr. Gerald Lang, an orthopedic surgeon and football official from Madison, Wis.

“It was absolutely excellent,” Lang said. “They did a great job of identifying the sports officials’ role. Most officials feel a bit uncomfortable making the call on a concussion. It is clearly stated in the training they are not being asked to make the diagnosis of a concussion but rather be on the lookout for signs and symptoms of a potential concussion.”

Lang said he learned of the presentation through Referee He said it carried a lot of weight with him because both the CDC and NASO were involved. After completing the course, he decided to spread the word to other officials. He visits local officials associations and delivers a PowerPoint presentation that supplements the HEADS UP training.

Lang says two of the positives of the course are it’s geared toward officials and it’s easy for anyone — veteran or newcomer, regardless of age and with or without any sort of medical background — to understand. “They did a really good job of explaining it,” Lang said.

The course, as well as Lang’s personal presentation, hit the most important target, he said, in that they stress officials aren’t expected to diagnose concussions. They are only to recognize the symptoms and react by sending those players to the sidelines to be examined by those who treat head injuries.

To take the HEADS UP course, log on to cdc.gov/headsup/ sportsofficials/training.

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