PRESENTED BY: ATHLETIC TRAINING STUDENTS FOR BRAIN SAFETY: EXTENSION OF THE ASSOCIATION OF ATHLETIC TRAINING STUDENTS (AATS) Dazed and Confused: Concussions and Brain injuries

CONCUSSION: AN INJURY TO THE HEAD THAT CAUSES THE BRAIN TO FUNCTION ABNORMALLY. IF YOU HAVE… EVER BEEN HIT AND YOU WERE “SEEING STARS” OR FELT A “LITTLE SILLY” THEN YOU’VE HAD A CONCUSSION! What is a Concussion?

Signs and Symptoms: Headache or pressure in the head Sensitivity to light or noise Confusion or fogginess Problem balancing Nausea or vomiting Troubles concentrating Trouble remembering things Double or blurry vision Fatigue, sleepiness or just not feeling right Signs and Symptoms of a Concussion

ACTUALLY, MOST CONCUSSIONS HAPPEN WITHOUT THE PLAYER BECOMING UNCONSCIOUS. EXAMPLE: CLIP FROM THE NEW YORK TIMES IN OCTOBER 2004: “BRETT FAVRE ADDED TO HIS LEGEND SUNDAY WITH WHAT MAY SOON BECOME KNOWN AS THE CONCUSSION THROW, A 28-YARD TOUCHDOWN PASS TO JAVON WALKER IN THE THIRD QUARTER, JUST THREE PLAYS AFTER BANGING HIS HEAD WHEN DEFENSIVE LINEMAN WILLIAM JOSEPH DROVE HIM TO THE LAMBEAU FIELD TURF. PACKERS COACH MIKE SHERMAN SAID FAVRE WAS "A LITTLE CLOUDY" AFTER THE HIT BY JOSEPH, AND THE PACKERS' MEDICAL STAFF WANTED HIM OUT OF THE GAME.” Common question: Don’t You Have to Pass Out to Have a Concussion?

TELL SOMEONE: TELL YOUR COACH, TEAMMATE, ROOMMATE OR FRIEND WHEN YOU FEEL SYMPTOMS OF A CONCUSSION. REST: UNLIKE SOME INJURIES, “TOUGHING OUT” A CONCUSSION COULD BE VERY DANGEROUS, EVEN FATAL FOR YOU. TAKE SOME TIME TO RECOVER AND DO NOT RETURN TO PHYSICAL ACTIVITIES UNTIL ALL YOUR SYMPTOMS ARE GONE. RECEIVE MEDICAL CARE: PERSISTENT SYMPTOMS OF A HEAD INJURY ARE NOT OKAY! SEE A PHYSICIAN OR AN ATHLETIC TRAINER. IF YOU SUSTAIN A SIGNIFICANT HEAD INJURY AND YOU HAVE SEVERE SYMPTOMS SEEK MEDICAL CARE IMMEDIATELY. What if I get a concussion?

SECONDARY IMPACT SYNDROME: WHEN A PERSON SUSTAINS A CONCUSSION BEFORE THE SYMPTOMS OF A PREVIOUS CONCUSSION ARE COMPLETELY GONE. SECONDARY IMPACT SYNDROME CAN CAUSE DEATH! POSTCONCUSSION SYNDROME: HAVE RESIDUAL CONCUSSION SYMPTOMS THAT LAST LONGER THAN 3 MONTHS. CAN HAVE NEGATIVE IMPACT ON SCHOOL WORK, JOB PERFORMANCE, CAUSE EMOTIONAL PROBLEMS LIKE DEPRESSION AND MANY OTHER LONG TERM PROBLEMS. Concussion Terminology

THE BRAIN IS THE MOST IMPORTANT ORGAN IN YOUR BODY, SO PROTECT IT BY: WEARING A HELMET WHEN: Playing contact sports like football or hockey Riding a bike, skateboarding, rollerblading, snowboarding or skiing Riding a motorcycle, ATV, snowmobile or mopeds BE SMART AND PLAY SPORTS CLEAN Keep head up while skating in hockey and other sports Do NOT check or hit players from behind, especially in hockey or soccer Be aware of your surrounding by not diving into goal polls, stands, benches, etc. Protect your Brain

ALL CONCUSSIONS ARE SERIOUS! DO NOT HIDE YOUR INJURY, REPORT IT TO FRIENDS OR A PHYSICIAN AND TAKE THE TIME TO FULLY RECOVER. REMEMBER, IT DOES NOT TAKE A BIG HIT OR FALL TO CAUSE A CONCUSSION. FINAL VIDEO: QZDBK3M40 QZDBK3M40 Be Smart About Your Brain