Cleveland County Schools glad to see concussion-awareness law
A newly passed law regarding concussion awareness, training and precautions in North Carolina doesn’t change what schools are doing in Cleveland County, but people involved in sports here still appreciate the message it sends.
“The concussion legislation that they passed recently is what we’ve been doing for a decade at Shelby High School,” said Jim Prevost, Shelby High director of sports medicine. “I think the intent of the legislation is from an educational perspective, to help communities that don’t have well-established athletic training programs.”
Prevost noted how all the schools in Cleveland County have done a good job of staying ahead of legislation. Crest High football coach Mark Barnes echoed that assessment while also noting the North Carolina High School Athletic Association’s proactive approach on head injuries.
“Obviously, the safety of the athletes is paramount,” Barnes said.
Sara Messer, a 2011 graduate of Burns High who was a student trainer for four years, said concussions are a point of emphasis at the beginning of football season.
“That was our main focus the whole beginning of the season is hitting right and just doing the best to watch for concussions and signs of concussions and what we need to do if we suspect a concussion,” Messer said.
As the season wears on and trainers are more familiar with the athletes, it’s easier for them to tell if they’re acting out of the ordinary and might have a concussion.
The Gfeller-Waller Concussion Awareness Act was passed in June and goes into effect when the 2011-12 school year begins. It calls for concussion safety training programs and information sheets for coaches, school nurses, athletic directors, volunteers and students who participate in athletic activities. Also, the law requires doctor, neuropsychologist, athletic trainer or physician assistant approval before an athlete can return from a concussion and that schools have an emergency plan for dealing with concussions.
Prevost said the law is good because it brings attention to athlete safety concerns.
“I think the legislation has a good purpose. Anything that supports and promotes the safety of athletes is beneficial,” Prevost said. “I don’t see any downside to that legislation at all at this juncture.”
He said it’s important particularly for football and wrestling athletes to practice safe ways of hitting each other.
Burns High football coach Matt Beam said it sounds like the law affirms what his program is already doing.
Messer noted how Cleveland County compares favorably with other counties where Burns would face teams that didn’t have as much of a sports training presence.
“You can’t watch as good for signs of concussion if you only have one person there or none at all sometimes,” Messer said.
The law also brings little change to the state’s governing body of high school sports. The NCHSAA had already required that athletes not return to action the same day as a head injury or any subsequent day if they still have symptoms. Rick Strunk, spokesman for the NCHSAA, said coaches are more aware of concussions than ever.
“Our member schools are doing everything they can to impact positively the safety of their student-athletes,” Strunk said.
Phillip Gardner contributed to this article.