Stay aware of the signs of a concussion
A concussion is like a bruise of the brain with results ranging from mild trauma to permanent damage. Heads accelerate forcefully when sports players collide, and the brain keeps moving within the skull, possibly injuring nerves and blood vessels. It can also happen if a kid is hit by a ball, falls out of a tree or is just playing around the house. The more vigorous the activity, the more impact involved, the more likely it is that someone will receive a concussion. Many kids experience mild concussions without anyone realizing it, but the injuries should not be shrugged off. Amnesia and loss of consciousness are red flags. Other symptoms may include disorientation, lack of coordination and delayed response to questions. Injured players may need to go to the hospital or at least sit out the game, depending on the symptoms. Parents should wake them during the first night to check their responsiveness and continue to watch them for headaches, nausea, visual disturbances and difficulty concentrating. The damage from repeated concussions can be cumulative so returning to action too soon or without evaluating recovery a risk that's not worth taking. In what's known as second-impact syndrome, for example, someone who appears to have recovered from a recent concussion suffers another injury. It may seem to be just a minor bump first, but the brain can react with massive swelling very quickly. It can be fatal within an hour. It's the thing that scares team physicians more than anything.
