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Raiders hold concussion awareness event

SRMC details the dangers of injury

Not long ago, having one’s “bell rung” in an athletic contest was was not necessarily viewed as a serious matter.

In fact, a player having his or her bell rung could even inspire amused responses from coaches, teammates and even close friends or family. Such reactions, however, weren’t inspired by malice – they were more the result of ignorance.

As part of a continuing effort by Sidney High School and the Sidney Regional Medical Center to educate the local public on the dangers of concussion, Dr. Brandon Brown spent nearly an hour Wednesday evening educating a small gathering of parents and students at the SHS Performing Arts Center.

Dr. Brown, a native of Scottsbluff and a newly arrived family practitioner at SRMC with a background and interest in sports medicine, spent the evening explaining symptoms of concussion as well as the importance of early diagnosis and treatment. Part of the presentation included video of a violent hit that occurred in a college football game. The player on the receiving end of a special teams “block” fell unconscious to the field.

That concussions can have serious long-term effects on a person’s mental and/or physical acuity has become more a part of American consciousness after legal battles surrounding the National Football League in recent years.

In response to that increased awareness, the Nebraska legislature passed LB 260 in 2012. This law requires various provisions for education, mandatory removal of athletes from competition or practice and steps required before a concussed athlete can return to play.

“We knew this was coming so we started a year before LB 260 was passed,” said SHS activities director Mike Brockhaus after the presentation. “We’ve required all our coaches to to go through concussion training for the past four or five years. It’s something they go through every year now.”

While the video of a violent special teams hit is a dramatic representation of a player sustaining a concussion, most concussions are much less obvious. An athlete receiving a concussion can have physical symptoms as subtle as a headache, fatigue, neck pain or an increased sensitivity to light. Or their could be emotional symptoms such as irritability, nervousness or sadness.

Among the more alarming statistics offered up by Dr. Brown is that 60 percent of concussion events in high school athletics goes unreported to an adult. Less than half of high school athletes who sustained a concussion during the previous season, reported the event to a trainer, physician or coach.

Sometimes the symptoms may be so subtle, only the athlete can recognize them. For example, if a player “sees stars” after a blow to the head, not even a well meaning coach or parent could recognize that.

“I thought Dr. Brown’s talk was very informative,” said Lisa Luptak, a parent of a SHS football player. “I wish there was a way Dr. Brown could go into the school itself when the kids were all congregated and have this talk with them.

“He could impress upon them how important it is for them to pay attention to the signs and symptoms of a concussion and what they should do about it if they experience symptoms,” Luptak added.

Prior to each athletic season, local student-athletes go through baseline testing at which time they are also educated on various symptoms of concussion. Baseline testing is done by medical personnel at SRMC to establish norms for each individual athlete. Baseline testing allows medical personnel to compare an athlete’s performance on cognitive and physical functions following a suspected concussion with his preseason norm.

“It’s their job to prove they are not concussed, not our job to prove they are,” said Dr. Brown. “When in doubt, sit it out.”

Following a concussion, Dr. Brown added, it’s not just important to sit out of athletic competition until the the brain has recovered, students need also stay out of school for at least one or two days. Additionally, a concussed person should refrain from loud noises, bright lights or any other activities that stimulate the brain.

“Some kids don’t want to come out of the game, but we really stress to them how important it is to tell someone if you experience symptoms,” Brockhaus said. “Giving up one or two high school games isn’t nearly as important as giving up years at the end of your life.”

 

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