Concussions are a very real danger that students who play contact sports—particularly football—and their parents must consider. And they must take concussions seriously.
The September 2010 suicide of a Virginia high school football player Austin Trenum a few days after he may have suffered a concussion during a game fueled the discussion of the possible link between concussion and suicide. Just months before, Owen Thomas, a University of Pennsylvania football player, killed himself. An autopsy of his brain showed early signs of a trauma-induced brain disease that has been found in NFL players—more than 20—who are deceased. The disease is called chronic traumatic encephalopathy and is linked to depression and lack of impulse control.
Trenum’s parents have donated his brain to trauma research. “We do not have any proof that his concussion caused this [the suicide]. However, we do know that Austin suffered a concussion last year two days before his death,” his father, Gilbert A Trenum, Jr. told the Washington Post. “Football is a contact sport and he has taken numerous hits to his head over the past few years. Austin’s action on Sunday [when he committed suicide] was completely out of character. The only logical conclusion is that something in his brain was not working correctly.”
Katherine Brearley, Thomas’ mother, said that “If his death could leave a legacy of making youth football safer for young people, it would be wonderful.” She has testified at congressional hearings about a bill that would require K-12 schools to have concussion education and management plans.
Boston University neurology professor Dr. Robert Stern leads a group that is conducting research on the effects of hard hits football players take and brain trauma. Read his Q&A with USA Today here.
Concussions, a common brain injury, can occur when an individual gets a hit to the head. The brain, which is made of soft tissue and surrounded by spinal fluid, is jarred and bangs against the hard skull. The signs are not always obvious, which can lead the injured person to think nothing is wrong. A football player who “gets his bell rung,” may think its okay just to get right back in the game.
Safety for your students is of the utmost importance for preventing and treating concussion—and making sure your students fully understand the seriousness.
KidsHealth.org (an extensive Web resource for kids, parents, and healthcare providers from the Nemours Foundation) provides teens with a description of concussion, along with the signs and symptoms. Your school nurse and coaches can use these tools to help get the message across.
KidsHealth lists some of the symptoms of concussion as:
- "seeing stars" and feeling dazed, dizzy, or lightheaded
- memory loss, such as trouble remembering things that happened right before or after the injury
- nausea or vomiting
- headaches
- blurred vision and sensitivity to light
- slurred speech or saying things that don't make sense
- difficulty concentrating, thinking, or making decisions
- difficulty with coordination or balance (such as being unable to catch a ball or perform other easy tasks
- feeling anxious or irritable for no apparent reason
- feeling overly tired
The treatment for a concussion is rest, to let the brain heal. That means no physical exertion, no sports activities—and doctors many recommend avoiding activities that require a lot of concentration or thinking.
KidsHealth warns teens that if they have suffered a concussion, to take care of themselves and give the brain a chance to fully heal. “When in doubt, sit out!”
