Guarding Against Head Injuries In Sports
Traumatic head injury is a major cause of death among trauma victims rushed to the ER. Although the most common cause of traumatic head injury is due to vehicular accidents, some victims suffer trauma due to sports and sporting or recreational activities.
Most sports are physical in nature and traumatic head injury among athletes and players can become a more common occurrence among those into contact sports like rugby, football and the like. Naturally, in training and in play, special precautions should be undertaken to avoid putting players under unnecessary safety risks. This is why for instance in football, players are required to wear head gear to protect them from traumatic head injury that may occur during tackling.
Despite all the precautions in place, players still are at risk from suffering traumatic head injury. In most cases though the traumatic head injury suffered in mild and players are usually able to function as they always have before the accident; however this is not to say that athletes who are discharged from the hospital and pronounced healthy should go right back to playing the sport.
If an athlete suffers traumatic head injury, however mild should take a break from playing for some time to avoid the possibility of further severe damage.
In the case of concussions among athletes, medical practitioners and specialists have a grading system for the severity of the injury. Players and athletes are advised to follow cessation of engagement in sports even if they show no signs or symptoms of post traumatic head injuries for a certain period of time which is based on the severity of the injury sustained.
For instance, if an athlete experiences a mild concussion, he or she may go back to playing after a week of not exhibiting any untoward symptoms associated with more serious trauma; However if in the same season the same player suffers another mild concussion, it is advised that a two week rest period from the game is observed. The athlete must also have a CT scan and be asymptomatic for at least a week before returning to the game. In the case of occurrence of a third mild concussion within the same season, athletes are strongly advised to discontinue play and may go back to the game in the next season provided that they do not suffer from any untoward symptoms from the traumatic head injury.
If on the other hand an athlete suffers a moderate concussion as opposed to a mild one then the patient may only go back to playing after he or she has been properly evaluated and exhibits no symptoms of indicators of more serious injuries for a week. If however the same individual suffers a second traumatic head injury within the same season with a concussion graded as moderate too then the athlete is advised to return to the game only after his or CT scan shows normal result after a month of being asymptomatic.
A third moderate concussions merits cessation of participation for the rest of the season.
Greater precautions must be undertaken by those who suffer severe concussions. It is important for coaches and athletes to understand that following the guidelines of rest and breaks from the game after traumatic head injury is very important even if they feel completely normal and remain asymptomatic long after the incident.
Head Injury Tip #1
Any injury to the head should be taken very seriously. Otherwise, the injured person could suffer from paralysis or even death if necessary medical treatment is not administered immediately. Without conducting some tests, like x-ray and/or CT scan, the injured or the doctor will not know the extent of the injury.
Head Injury Tip #2
Observe the injured person constantly for additional symptoms that may develop. Document these changes meticulously to help the patient's physician in diagnosing the extent of the brain injury, since onset of symptoms may occur days, weeks or months after the initial injury.
Head Injury Tip #3
Get as much details as soon as possible about the incident that caused the traumatic brain injury. Whatever the cause of the injury - car accident, work-related, working around the house, etc., it will be important to have all the details documented in case the cause of the injury ends up in court.