Concussion

Please watch the above video from the beginning to about 3:20.   Feel free to watch the whole thing but it goes into a little more detail than you need to know. After watching the video, read the information below and then answer your quiz questions. 

Concussions, Head Injury, or MTBI (mild traumatic brain injury)

These injuries are becoming more prevalent and we are constantly learning more and more about them. Sometimes it can take symptoms minutes, hours or even days to show up.  Please take any head injury/bonk/bump seriously.  If you witness a head injury please make sure to bring them to the "Well Room" to be checked out. We may have you fill out an injury report form. If they cannot make their way to the Well Room, please notify us ASAP and we will come with the wheelchair.  They will remain in the Well Room for a little while. They may or may not return to class. If we need to, we will send them home. 

I know signs and symptoms were mentioned in the video, but I wanted to quickly go over them again. 

*dizziness *slurred speech *confusion *disoriented *balance problems *can't answer simple questions *headache *nausea *irritability *fatigue *eye problem (double vision, spots, etc) *mood or behavior changes *problems with memory, thinking or sleeping

Signs or symptoms that may require immediate attention by a medical provider:

*loss of consciousness, or blacks out *one pupil bigger than the other *weakness/numbness *repeated vomiting *seizure activity *extreme drowsiness or cannot be awakened *

After a concussion, rest and time is the best medicine. Sleeping after a concussion is ok,  as long as they can answer questions appropriately and wake up easily.   Limiting screen time is also recommended. Parents usually love this when we tell them! Activities that require concentration my make symptoms of a concussion worse. Students may need to limit studying (the students usually love this when we tell them!), playing video games, or other physical activity.  Remember, it may take them days or even weeks to recover. If a student has been seen by a provider and diagnosed with a concussion they will usually be sent back to school or sports with a "Return to School" or "Return to Activity/Play" plan that needs to be followed. They may also have some accommodations that will need to take place. But you will be notified if one of your students is on either of these protocols.