STUDENT ACCIDENT/ILLNESS/CONCUSSION | Administrative Guideline Manual

5340A - STUDENT ACCIDENT/ILLNESS/CONCUSSION

In the event of a student accident or illness, staff members shall:

if properly trained, administer first aid;
report the accident to the appropriate administrator;
summon professional medical assistance, if needed;
notify the parents as soon as possible by telephone or written report;
contact parents immediately if the accident indicates professional medical care is required;
record on the Injury Report Form, as soon as possible, all pertinent facts concerning the accident and submit it to the Principals office.

School personnel shall not diagnose illness or administer medication of any kind except in accordance with AG 5330.

Records are to be kept on all injuries requiring medical attention that occur while students are on school property, in school buildings, on the way to or from school, or at school-sponsored activities.

A copy of the Injury Report Form is to be filed with the carrier of the District's liability insurance when requested.

Each principal shall prepare in-building procedures for dealing with illness at school which ensures prompt attention to the child and proper communication with the parents.

Concussions

A concussion is a type of traumatic brain injury. Concussions occur when there is a forceful blow to the head or body that results in rapid movement of the head and causes any change in behavior, thinking, or physical functioning. Concussions are not limited to situations involving loss of consciousness. Some symptoms of a concussion include headache, nausea, confusion, memory difficulties, dizziness, blurred vision, anxiety, difficulty concentrating, and difficulty sleeping.

Students/parents have access to an information sheet regarding concussion and head injury. If a student is going to participate in an activity where a concussive event may occur, the appropriate release must be signed at least once per school year.

Pre-season Concussion Assessment

Optimally a concussion history should be included as part of all of a student/athlete’s pre‐participation physical health examinations with their health care professional.
Pre-season neurocognitive testing of all athletes is highly recommended and can be accomplished through a computerized system. This testing is required once every two (2) years for participation in all high school sports except cross country, swimming, golf, and tennis. Parents may request testing for students in these excluded sports.

The ImPACT program is designed to measure specific brain functions that may be altered following a concussion. The program is designed in such a way as to allow athletes to be tested pre‐season so that post-injury performance may be compared to the athlete’s own baseline.

Return to Play

After medical clearance, students will follow an individualized, stepwise, Return-to-Play protocol managed by healthcare providers, athletic trainer, and coaches.

No student will be allowed to return to play while having symptoms.
Athlete must return to full-load academics without accommodations before returning to the sport.
Must not be taking any pain control or headache medication.
The plan will allow for no more than one step of increased activity per twenty-four (24) hours. The plan will allow for a gradual increase in heart rate and physical exertion, coordination and, finally, allowing contact.
If symptoms return, the athlete should stop activity and notify the health care provider before progressing to the next level.

Parents who inform coaches and teachers that their child is being treated by a healthcare professional for a concussion must provide written clearance from that healthcare professional for full or limited participation in class, practice, activity, or competition. Prior to receiving written clearance from a healthcare professional, students who have sustained a concussion may not participate in any school-related physical activities.

If a concussion is suspected by a teacher or coach, the student will be removed from the class, practice, activity, or game. The student will not be permitted to return to full participation until s/he is evaluated by a healthcare professional experienced in concussion management and receives written clearance for full participation from that professional. Limited physical activity in the physical education context may eventually be permitted, depending on the recommendation of the healthcare professional.

Teachers or coaches who suspect a student has been concussed shall record on the Injury Report Form, as soon as possible, all pertinent facts concerning the incident and submit it to the Principal's office.

Parents shall be notified about the possible concussion and given information on concussions and the need for medical attention.

Prior to the beginning of each season and pre-season training, coaches shall notify parents and student-athletes of the fact that written clearance for full participation will be required from a healthcare professional when a concussion is suspected or diagnosed. Information about this guideline will be included in the student handbook.

Coaches and physical education staff will be trained in concussion recognition and response. Specifically, training will include information on how to recognize the signs and symptoms of a concussion, how to obtain proper medical treatment in cases of suspected concussions, and return-to-play standards.