When your children participate in school sports, concussions can be a concern. A concussion is caused by a blow to the head or by an injury that makes the head move back and forth with a lot of force. This causes chemical changes in the brain and sometimes damages the brain cells. The risk is highest for kids who play football, ice hockey, lacrosse, soccer, and field hockey.
According to The Mayo Clinic, concussions temporarily interfere with the way the brain works. They can be mild and will allow for complete recovery. However, the clinic warns that concussions in children can pose serious health risks.
So what do you do after your child gets a concussion? The clinic says that head injuries take time to heal, and after an injury children should rest from both physical and mental (cognitive) activities for a day or two.
After returning to school, kids may require some classroom adjustments, including a lighter course load or a shortened school day. If an activity such as reading or jogging causes symptoms, such as headache, the child should take a break, then resume the activity for shorter periods and gradually work up to pre-concussion levels as symptoms improve.
The clinic shares the signs and symptoms of a concussion may include: headaches, blurred or double vision, dizziness, balance problems, or trouble walking, confusion, saying things that don't make sense, being slow to answer questions, slurred speech, nausea or vomiting, not remembering what happened or generally not feeling well
