Sports concussion policy studied
EAU CLAIRE – Eau Claire School Board members are studying a proposed policy for how to treat student athletes who suffer concussions and other head injuries.
The proposal was discussed at Monday’s school board meeting and is expected to be acted on at the board’s Nov. 14 meeting. Superintendent Mark Costello asked members to send any revisions or additions to him before that meeting.
“I would assume you want to have something like this as a policy to protect the district, the coaches and the athletes,” he said. “We have a precious commodity we want to keep safe.”
If adopted, the policy would complement rules of the Michigan High School Athletic Association, Costello said. The MHSAA’s rules call for student athletes to be kept out of the game in which they’ve suffered a concussion and not allowed to play in future games until cleared by a doctor.
Athletic Director John Carr said the state has strict regulations and has trained coaches from all sports in the rules about treating concussions and similar injuries.
The preliminary draft of the proposed policy for Eau Claire calls for athletes to get immediate medical assistance after suffering a concussion in either practice or a game and prohibits them from returning until they get a medical release, Costello said.
The policy covers athletes in all sports.
“Anytime an athlete blanks out even for a split second, that’s sufficient to seek immediate medical assistance and get the student to a medical facility immediately,” he said. “We should never downplay an injury – we’re not medical experts.”
Signs listed in the proposed policy include appearing dazed or stunned, forgetting plays, moving clumsily, losing consciousness, not being able to remember earlier events and answering questions slowly.
Symptoms listed include headaches, nausea, balance problems or dizziness, sensitivity to light or noise, confusion, double or fuzzy vision, feeling sluggish and having problems concentrating.
School board Trustee Connie Harmon requested that the policy include having consequences spelled out for violating it. Also, she asked that the policy apply to other situations besides concussions, such as when an athlete is hit hard, and that teachers and principals be asked to be on the lookout for students’ symptoms.