Part One in the "Concussion Update" series
It is a terrible coincidence that actress Natasha Richardson's death on the ski slopes from a traumatic brain injury occurred during Brain Injury Awareness month. Each March, the Brain Injury Association of America sponsors events and publicity to raise awareness of brain injuries and their effects. This year, the association's focus -- and part of their year-long campaign -- is Sports & Concussions. What a tragic way of underscoring the seriousness of prevention and awareness of head injuries for athletes than to have the whole country focused on Natasha Richardson's story.
According to the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention, there are anywhere from 1.6 to 3.8 million sports-related concussions per year in the US alone -- the wide swing in this number being the difference between diagnosed concussions and the estimated number that go unreported. The message is that head injuries in sports are huge and not enough attention is being paid to the potential dangers they pose. Think of concussions among athletes and you'll likely picture football players or hockey players injured during heated contests. But in fact, concussions are pervasive throughout all sports, from the beginner trails on a ski mountain, to a wide range of girls' sports, to simply falling off the monkey bars on the playground.
What can we learn from Natasha Richardson's tragedy?
1) Helmets are a must for every skier, snowboarder, skater and biker. No one can know if a helmet would have prevented Richardson's death; however, it certainly could have mitigated the injury and given her more time to get the appropriate medical intervention that may have saved her life. Parents need to set the example and not just require their children to wear helmets, but also wear helmets when they ski or bike.
2) Take every head injury seriously. Seek medical attention immediately if you exhibit any symptoms of concussion. Only a doctor's evaluation will reveal whether it is a concussion (a "shaking" of the brain that requires rest and time to heal) or something more serious, such as an internal bleed or swelling of the brain, which can be silent killers.
3) This incident will build greater awareness of concussions and their symptoms.
Initial signs of concussion
- Loss of consciousness
- Confusion or slurred speech
- Dizziness
- Headache
- Nausea or vomiting
Other signs that may not appear for hours or days after injury
- Changes in mood
- Inability to focus, lack of concentration
- Sensitivity to light and noise
- Insomnia or other sleep problems
Know what to look for so that you can get treatment right away if you show any signs of concussion.
Stay tuned for my next posts in the series "Concussion Update" on Post-Concussion Syndrome and new legislative action to protect kids in sports.
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