What is a concussion?
- A concussion is a type of traumatic brain injury (TBI) caused by a bump, blow, or jolt to the head that can change the way your brain normally works.
- A concussion can also occur from a fall or a blow to the body that causes the head and brain to move quickly back and forth.
- A concussion is a brain injury and all are serious.
- Most concussions occur without loss of consciousness.
- Proper response to concussions when they first occur can help prevent further injury or even death.
Concussion Awareness Act
The Concussion Awareness Act became law in Nebraska on July 1, 2012. It requires that all public, private and parochial schools, as well as all organized youth sports sponsored by villages, cities, businesses, or non-profit organizations for children ages 19 and under, make available approved concussion training. The law has three requirements:
- Education: All coaches, youth athletes, and their parent or guardian must be provided with education about the risks and symptoms of concussion and how to seek proper medical attention.
- Removal from Play: Under any reasonable suspicion of concussion, coaches will remove youth athletes from play.
- Return to Play: Youth athletes will not be allowed to return to play including games, scrimmages, and practices of any kind, until written approval from an appropriate licensed healthcare professional AND the youth's parent or guardian are obtained. Licensed healthcare professional may be a physician, physician's assistant, nurse practitioner nurse, athletic trainer, neuropsychologist, or any licensed healthcare worker in Nebraska who is specifically trained in pediatric traumatic brain injury.
The law was amended, effective July 18, 2014, to include a return-to-learn provision. The return-to-learn protocol recognizes that students who have sustained a concussion and returned to school may need informal or formal accommodations, modifications of curriculum, and monitoring by medical or academic staff until the student is fully recovered. It requires schools to establish a return-to-learn protocol.
Approved Concussion Training Courses
CDC – Centers for Disease Control and Prevention
NFHS - National Federation of High Schools