CONCUSSION INFORMATION
If your student-athlete has experienced any head injury, please inform your school and AHS Athletic Trainer immediately. Aspen School District has a concussion management plan in place to ensure the well-being of your student-athlete.
WHAT IS A CONCUSSION?
A concussion is a mild brain injury that temporarily affects the way the brain works and can lead to symptoms such as headache, dizziness, and confusion.
A concussion happens when the brain is injured. This can happen when the head is hit — for example, from a fall. But concussions also can happen without a blow to the head — for example, in a car accident when the head snaps forcefully forward and back. The strong movement causes chemical and blood flow changes in the brain. These changes lead to concussion symptoms.
You can't see a concussion on an x-ray or scan. Signs and symptoms of concussion can show up right after the injury or may not appear or be noticed until days or weeks after the injury. If your student reports any symptoms of concussion, or if you notice the symptoms yourself, seek medical attention and let your school's health team know.
CDC Heads Up - Brain Injury Information
WHAT ARE SIGNS AND SYMPTOMS OF A CONCUSSION?
Here are some of the symptoms that are typically associated with a concussion.
| Symptoms you might see |
Symptoms they might report |
- confusion
- vomiting
- balance/coordination off
- slow responses
- behavior or personality changes
- can't remember the event
|
- headache or "pressure" in the head
- nausea or vomiting
- balance, coordination or vision problems
- dizziness
- sensitivity to light or noise
- feeling sluggish, hazy, foggy
- concentration or memory problems
- confusion
- just feeling "not right"
|
WHAT SHOULD YOU DO IF YOU THINK YOUR STUDENT-ATHLETE HAS A CONCUSSION?
- Seek medical attention right away. A health care professional will be able to decide how serious the concussion is and when it is safe for your student to return to full activity.
- If your student is an athlete, keep them out of play. Concussions take time to heal. Don't let your student return to play until a health care professional says it's OK. Students who return to play too soon - while the brain is still healing - risk a greater chance of having a second concussion. Second or later concussions can be very serious. They can cause permanent brain damage, affecting your student for a lifetime.
- Report any prior concussion. Doctors should know if your student had a recent concussion.
- If your student is not an athlete, they still need time to recover and heal. Keep physical and mental activity low key and let your school know - they will facilitate a return to learning strategy to support your student.
- Important - Notify the school if your student has had a concussion/head injury.
LIGHTNING
Studies have shown most people struck by lightning are struck not at the height of a thunderstorm, but before and after the storm has peaked. This is because lightning can strike as far as 10 miles from the area where it is raining and many people are unaware of how far lightning can strike from its parent thunderstorm.
Therefore, if you can hear thunder, you are within striking distance. Seek safe shelter immediately. Remember this lightning safety rule...When thunder roars, go indoors and stay there until 30 minutes after the last clap of thunder. DO NOT wait for the rain to start before seeking shelter, and do not leave shelter just because the rain has ended.
- If you hear thunder, lightning is close enough to strike you.
- When you hear thunder, immediately move to safe shelter.
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