With the right wall mats and the right student training, coaches and parents alike can rest easy knowing their kids are playing safe on the field. However, with any sport involving high speeds, concussive injury remains of slim, but obviously important, possibility. To quote a 2013 paper provided by the American Academy of Neurology, “almost nine percent of all US high school sports injuries involve concussions.”
SportsGraphics, as a provider of high school wall mats, cares about the welfare of student athletes and about providing schools with the resources they need to ensure it. Below we’ve written a brief introduction on recognizing traumatic brain injuries in student athletes.
What’s a Concussion and What Causes it?
A concussion is more than a simple bump on the head. It’s an impact-related injury wherein the brain “bounces or twists around in the skull, creating chemical changes… and sometimes stretching and damaging brain cells,” as states the CDC.
Skulls and brains are tough, and not every nasty fall or collision will result in a concussion, especially when precautions are taken in the form of pads for gym walls, helmets, and safe play.
Concussions in and of themselves also have scales of severity—though each one requires prompt medical attention—and they also occur far outside the realm of school sports. Auto accidents and slips and falls, for example, are also common causes.
What Are the Symptoms of a Concussion?
Each athlete is different and responds differently to pain and injury. However, confusion and memory loss are two symptoms that are difficult to hide. An affected athlete may, for example, quickly forget a given role on the field or be unable to work through a coach’s instructions. What happened before and after a traumatic event may also be difficult for the athlete to recall.
Clumsiness and physical issues are another telltale sign. An athlete may limp off the field thanks to a leg injury, for example, but they won’t otherwise have the seemingly dazed lack of coordination that’s commonly seen with concussions.
For a more comprehensive look at concussions and their symptoms, check out this PDF from the CDC.
What Should a Coach Do for a Concussion?
The second a coach notices an athlete looking “off,” they should immediately sideline them and help to seek medical attention. The child should not be allowed to play until cleared by their doctor, as repeat injuries can prove quite severe.
Protect Your Athletes With Top-Quality Custom Wall Pads from SportsGraphics
Ensure your students can give it their all without risking this life-threatening injury. Provide them with the safe space they deserve with gym wall padding from SportsGraphics. Give our Clarion office a call today at 1-800-257-6405.