More information for those considering HEADCHECK MANAGER…
Concussion Action Plan
Before the season begins, sports teams should have a concussion action plan in place. It may even be subject to the league’s guidelines. But even if a league isn’t providing a protocol, it’s important to know the plan ahead of time. A dedicated concussion action plan empowers you to execute quickly and easily in the unfortunate event of a suspected head injury.
The HEADCHECK MANAGER app gives non-medical personnel, including coaches, easy access to up-to-date information so that you can immediately enact your concussion action plan. Remember, suspected concussions can come from seemingly minor blows and without the loss of consciousness.(1)
A concussion action plan should include:(2)
- Responding immediately to any head trauma
- Seeking medical attention
- Watching for additional symptoms
- Sitting the athlete out until they are medically cleared by a trained professional
How HEADCHECK MANAGER Helps
For non-medical personnel, such as coaches or volunteers, having support from an app platform with updated policies and protocols can assist you to help keep your athletes safe. HEADCHECK allows you to:
- Record initial concussion signs and symptoms after a potential head injury
- Share the initial injury report with medical professionals, the athlete and their parent/guardian (if applicable) for easier diagnosis and better follow up
- Get real-time updates on an athlete’s return-to-play eligibility
Concussion Test for Coaches
As a coach, you train the athletes, create a culture of teamwork, and work diligently to protect and keep them safe. You’re also usually the first to respond to an injury. But how can you identify a suspected concussion without being a medical professional? Using HEADCHECK MANAGER can support non-medical personnel in the identification of a suspected concussion before medical staff can be consulted. The concussion test for coaches on the app platform can:
- Prompt you to identify immediate red flags, such as vomiting, headaches, dizziness, or loss of consciousness.
- Provide guiding questions to ask to assist in evaluating cognition.
- Bring attention to physical changes such as blurred vision, sensitivity to sound, and more.
- Ensure important symptoms, such as headache, feeling slowed down and fatigue, are recorded for easier diagnosis by medical professionals.
Remember, only a medical professional can diagnose a concussion. If an athlete returns to play too soon, a second concussion (second impact syndrome) could be sustained with more serious repercussions.
When in doubt, sit them out.
What is the Immediate Concussion Treatment Plan?
Whether you’re the coach, a volunteer, or a guardian, a suspected concussion should be treated promptly and handled as if it were a concussion. The immediate treatment for a concussion focuses on rest, avoiding a second impact, and symptom management.
Symptom management as part of the immediate concussion treatment plan may include treating the following: (3)
- Pain (ask your medical provider for the recommended medication to reduce pain without increasing a risk of bleeding.)
- Nausea
- Vomiting
- Headaches
- Blurry vision
Relative mental and physical rest allow the brain to begin to heal. In the first 48 hours of a concussion, athletes should do the following:
- Limit physical activity
- Limit activities that require thinking and mental concentration, including
- Reading
- Schoolwork
- Screen time (text, computer, video games, watching TV)
- Avoid activities that involve risks of impacts to the head or body
After 24-48 hours (depending on protocol), you can begin to gradually reintroduce physical and mental activities, as long as they do not trigger symptoms. To ensure a quick recovery and a safe return to sport, a qualified medical professional should be consulted promptly for diagnosis and guidance on gradual return to work, school, and sport.
Sources
- “What Is a Concussion?” Centers for Disease Control and Prevention, Centers for Disease Control and Prevention, 12 Feb. 2019, https://www.cdc.gov/headsup/basics/concussion_whatis.html.
- “Responding to a Concussion and Action Plan for Coaches.” Centers for Disease Control and Prevention, Centers for Disease Control and Prevention, 2 Oct. 2020, https://www.cdc.gov/headsup/basics/concussion_respondingto.html.
- “Recovery from Concussion.” Centers for Disease Control and Prevention, Centers for Disease Control and Prevention, 12 Feb. 2019, https://www.cdc.gov/headsup/basics/concussion_recovery.html.