As the parent of a son who plays college football, I have great concerns about the dangers of sports-related concussions.
Brain injuries in contact sports are reaching epidemic proportions, not only in pro football, but also at the college and high school levels. Coaches and young athletes need more education about the dangers of concussions and players must learn how to protect themselves from repeated blows to the head and upper body.
The dangers of sports-related concussions were brought to the forefront by a lawsuit filed by players of the National Football League. Many revealed that they suffered from the devastating effects of multiple blows to the head, including chronic traumatic encephalopathy and other serious side effects from concussions, such as memory loss, dementia and the degenerative brain disease, ALS.
The New York Times recently reported that the NFL expects nearly one-third of its retired players to develop long-term cognitive problems due to head injuries.
The devastating effects of concussions can start long before the pros.
The NCAA reports that more than 29,000 concussions occurred in NCAA sports between 2004 and 2009.
Several former NCAA players have filed suit, alleging that they were not properly protected from head injuries while playing college sports. As part of an effort to combat concussions, the NCAA began a study of concussions sustained in a variety of sports, not just football.
Casey Cochran, a star quarterback for the University of Connecticut Huskies, announced earlier this month that he is walking away from football after his latest concussion.
In an interview with the Courant, a Hartford newspaper, he said: “The thing I need to tell people growing up around football is be smart about it and not to have a mentality you need to hide your injuries. It doesn’t matter if it’s head or ankle. At the end of the day, being healthy and walking around and having a happy life is way more important than winning games or being a Division I athlete.”
I applaud Cochran for choosing to protect his health and his future by walking off the field. In doing so, he has become a role model to many young athletes who face these difficult decisions. We all need to follow Cochran’s lead and make sure our children understand that sitting out of a game after a head injury is an absolute necessity and walking away from a sport after repeated head injuries is the right thing to do.
Teaching the signs and symptoms of a concussion and the dangers is a must. Symptoms to watch for after a blow to the head or body that causes the head to move rapidly back and forth include: headache or pressure in the head, nausea or vomiting, balance problems or dizziness, sensitivity to light or noise, feeling sluggish or groggy, concentration or memory problems, confusion, or not feeling right.
If you suspect that your child has had a concussion, seek medical attention immediately and follow the advice of medical professionals.
No child should return to the field after suffering a head injury, until properly cleared by a doctor.
The NFL and NCAA lawsuits, as well as other concussion awareness movements, help increase understanding of the seriousness of concussions and the potentially tragic consequences of repeated blows to the head.
It has helped us to realize that concussions are not just a serious problem for professional athletes, but are prevalent in children of all ages who participate in contact sports, from youth programs to high school and college.
Increased awareness helped to save Casey Cochran from further injury and will help us all confront this issue head-on to help protect our children.
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