There is risk involved in any contact sport.
And health experts say that’s true of any sport, whether it’s soccer, tennis, hockey or football, there is inherent risk to sports.
“That’s a very controversial issue,” said Billings Clinic Orthopedic and Sports Medicine Physician Assistant Timothy Sanders.“But can you die from a concussion? I don’t know. I think there is a thing called second impact syndrome where you get a concussion, and then you get another concussion, which they say that second impact syndrome is 50% mortal, and that means 50% of the kids that get it will die.”
And as the debate gains speed, School District 2 officials are taking note.
“We’re really concern about the concussion issue,” said SD2 Athletic Director, Mark Wahl.
The most recent case involved a Chicago area high school football player, 17- year old Andre Smith, who died during a game about a week ago. He marks the seventh high school football player to die this year.
Billings school officials don’t want their players to become a statistic.
“We went through a comprehensive process a couple of years ago to have a complete district policy. We have full impact testing for all our athletes, especially the athletes who are in those contact sports.”‘
“Basically it tells us how their brain functions. So pretty much all athletes in School District 2 take a test before they start their sports, and this test is their baseline,” said Sanders. “This is where they are before they got hit by the truck, or before they got run over by the quarterback.”
According to SD2 officials, if there is any hint, even the slightest hint of a concussion, athletes must go through the protocol before they can get back in the game. And that protocol they say, starts with a sideline evaluation.
“We have license athletic trainers at all schools and they are trained to administer the sideline test, which consists of balance testing, memory testing, things like visual acuity and mental clarity,” said Skyview Head Athletic Trainer Troy Trollope.
“The trainers are very instrumental in helping us deal with concussions,” said Sanders.
“As coaches, we have to make sure, number one, that our players are conditioned, said Skyview Head Football Coach Ron Lebsock. “And what we found is that the stronger the neck and shoulder area, the less concussion.”
“We eliminate them from competition or practices for that seven to 10 days and then re-valuate them at that time based on what the providers tell the athletic trainers and then we return to play protocol, which consists of some play exertions, and then reclimatize the athlete to the competitive environment,” said Trollope.
If the athletic trainer thinks a player has had a concussion, then the athlete will repeat the test.
And that allows trainers to see how the athlete’s memory and motorspeed are affected, offering insight into the possibility and severity of a concussion.
Because risks are involved in all contact sports, School District 2 officials are taking steps to make sure players, trainers, coaches and parents are educated on the dangers of concussion.
ORIGINAL ARTICLE:
http://www.ktvq.com/story/30398298/billings-school-district-2-protecting-young-athletes-from-concussion