THE HIGH SCHOOL
DUBLIN
Name of
Policy
H.S.D
Concussion Policy
Effective Date:
- 1st October 2015
Review Date:
- 31st May 2017
Status – Active
Date
Approved by HSD Education Committee
Recommended
for Authorisation:
Signature: _____________________________ Date: ______________
Authorised
by:
Signature: _____________________________ Date: _____________
Table of
Contents
1. Purpose
2. Review History
3. Persons Affected
4. Procedure Statement
5. Definitions – signs and symptoms
6. Recognise and Remove
7. Staff Responsibilities
8. Procedures
1.
Purpose
The purpose of this document is to provide information and
guidance to all staff members who are placed in a situation where a student in
their care has potentially suffered a concussive event.
Concussion must be taken extremely seriously. Ignoring the
signs and symptoms of concussion may result in a prolonged recovery period, a
more serious brain injury or even death.
2.
Review History
This policy
is to be reviewed on an annual basis with documented dates for each review.
The review
is to be undertaken by the School Nurse and Sports Co-ordinator.
Any changes
need to be documented and then approved by the Education committee.
Date of Review
|
Nurse
|
Sports Co-ordinator
|
Education committee
|
3.
Persons Affected
a) Nurse
b) All Teaching Staff
c) External Coaches
d) Parents
e) Pupils
f) Ancillary Staff – Catering,
Supervisors, Caretaking, Administration, Special needs assistants.
4.
Procedure Statement
a) STOP – player
must be removed from the activity and not allowed to return.
b) INFORM –
parents, school nurse and sports co-ordinator of injury
c) REST – player
must not return to any activity until they have completed the graduated return
to play(GRTP)
d) RETURN – player
may return after completion of GRTP or have been cleared for return to play by
a medically trained professional i.e. GP
5.
Definitions.
What is
Concussion?
Concussion
is a traumatic brain injury. It is a complex process in which forces are
transmitted to the brain and result in temporary impairment of BRAIN FUNCTION
rather than a structural injury to the brain.
Concussion
can have a significant impact on the short and long term health of the player
if not managed correctly.
What causes Concussion?
Concussion
can be caused by a direct blow to the head or body and from whiplash type
movements of the head and neck that can occur when a player collides with
another player or the ground or is struck with an object.
Immediately
following a suspected concussion the brain is susceptible to further
significant damage in the event of another impact. (Secondary Impact Syndrome).
6.
Recognize and Remove
Concussion
should be suspected if one or more
of the following visible clues, signs, symptoms or errors in answering memory
questions are present.
i)
Visible clues of suspected concussion
Any one or more of the following visual clues can indicate a
possible concussion:
-
Loss
of consciousness
-
Lying
motionless on ground/ slow to get up
-
Unsteady
on feet/ Balance problems or falling over/ Incoordination
-
Grabbing
/ Clutching of head
-
Dazed,
blank or vacant look
-
Confused/
Not aware of plays, place or events
ii)
Signs and Symptoms of Concussion.
Presence of any one or more of the following signs and
symptoms may suggest a concussion
·
Loss
of Consciousness
·
Seizure
or convulsion
·
Balance
problems
·
Nausea
(feeling sick) or Vomiting
·
Drowsiness
·
Player
is more emotional
·
Irritability
·
Sadness
·
Fatigue
or low energy
·
Player
is more nervous or anxious
·
Confusion
·
‘Don’t
feel right’
·
Headache
·
Dizziness
·
Feeling
slowed down
RED FLAGS
If ANY of the following are reported then the player should
be safely and immediately removed from the field. If no qualified medical
professional is available, consider transporting by ambulance for urgent
medical assessment:
-
Athlete
complains of neck pain
-
Increased
confusion or irritability
-
Repeated
vomiting
-
Seizure
or Convulsion
-
Weakness
or tingling/ burning in arms or legs
-
Deteriorating
conscious state
-
Severe
or increasing headache
-
Unusual
behaviour change
-
Double-vision
7.
Staff Responsibilities
i)
Every
sports coaching staff/teacher to be given concussion recognition booklet.
ii)
Any
casualty suffering a potentially concussive incident is immediately removed
from play/ training and is supervised by a responsible adult until medical care
/ parent is sourced.
iii)
A
medical incident report form to be completed by witness as soon as conveniently
possible.
iv)
The
school nurse is informed promptly.
v)
Ensure
that parents are informed either by staff member or through the school nurse.
vi)
Sports
co-ordinator to post all incidents/dates of concussion and suspected concussion
on staff room notice-board and inform school nurse.
vii)
Sports
co-ordinator to maintain list of all concussions occurring in the school.
viii)
Sports
co-ordinator to place all sport related concussed students into GRTP protocol
and monitor their re-introduction back into activity.
ix)
Medical
practitioner clearance certificates to be held by school nurse and copy taken
by sports co-ordinator for sporting students.
x)
Concussions
occurring at away venues - staff should contact host school nurse if available.
Complete incident report form to HSD nurse and inform Sports co-ordinator.
Student Responsibilities
i)
To
inform teacher/coaches of occurrence of injury.
ii)
Individual
player honesty relating to injury symptoms.
8.
Procedures
All students
suffering a concussive event or suspected concussive event will be entered into
graduated return to play (GRTP) protocol and not allowed to return to
participate until cleared by a medical practitioner or (GRTP) protocol
completed.
R.
Walker Sports Co-ordinator
U. Bingel School Nurse
January 2016
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