Vim & Vigor - Spring 2014 - Gwinnett Medical Center - (Page 5)

uSSionS What Do I Look For? Although the injury is immediate, symptoms vary widely and may not show up until hours or days later. Symptoms range from subtle to obvious. * Headache * Nausea or vomiting * Dizziness or balance problems * Double or blurry vision * Sensitivity to light or noise * Feeling dazed or stunned * Trouble concentrating or remembering * Confused or forgetful about recent events * Slow to answer questions * Changes in mood-irritable, sad, emotional, nervous * Drowsiness * Sleeping more or less than usual What Do I Do Next? After identifying a concussion, take the following steps. Rest. After a concussion, this is key. Not only should the student-athlete not participate in physical activities, he or she should also limit activities that require a lot of mental activity or concentration. This includes sports, schoolwork, jobs and video games. seek evaluation. Do not try to judge the severity of the injury yourself. Have your student-athlete evaluated right away by an appropriate health care professional. The experts at the Concussion Institute at GMC-Duluth have a number of methods to assess concussion severity and develop an appropriate care plan to return your child to the classroom and playing field as quickly and as safely as possible. Rally the team. Inform your child's teachers, administrators, counselors, etc., about the injury and symptoms. Your child may need rest breaks during the school day or extra help with tests and other activities. The Concussion Institute has an expert dedicated to helping you lay out a plan. These serious brain injuries require careful monitoring. Parents, here is your primer RetuRn to play, safely. "Recovery times vary," Dr. Shapiro says, "so you should be wary when permission is based on the amount of time spent 'resting' rather than measures of current symptoms and neurocognitive status." hoW WILL I kNoW My ChILD Is reaDy? One objective measurement tool used at the Concussion Institute at GMC-Duluth is the Immediate Post-Concussion Assessment and Cognitive Testing program (ImPACT). ImPACT provides neurocognitive computer testing in the preseason to establish a baseline. Later, if a concussion is suspected, follow-up tests are compared with the baseline to confirm the injury, determine severity and track recovery. Once the child is cleared-that is, 100 percent symptom free-be sure that he or she follows a gradual return-to-play protocol under the supervision of a health care provider or a certified athletic trainer with expertise in concussion management. "It is important that a concussion have complete healing before the student-athlete returns to play," Dr. Shapiro says. "And that's our mission at the Concussion Institute." Parents: Stress Patience During Your Child's Recovery Be patient! It is normal for children to feel frustrated, sad and angry because they cannot return to sports and recreation right away. Careful post-injury management will ensure the quickest and safest return to sports and to the classroom. SP RI NG 2014 5

Table of Contents for the Digital Edition of Vim & Vigor - Spring 2014 - Gwinnett Medical Center

Vim & Vigor - Spring 2014 - Gwinnett Medical Center
Contents
Phil’s Feature
Staying Ahead of Concussions
The Recovery Zone
Occupational Hazards
The New Rules of Play
Shopping for Two
Back to Basics
Burn, Baby, Burn
Angelina Jolie
Rock Your Health
Breaking Up with Salt
Disgusting! (or Not?)
Virtual Health
PrimeTime Health
Ready, Set, Run!
You Can Change the World
Out of the White Coat
Transforming Healthcare

Vim & Vigor - Spring 2014 - Gwinnett Medical Center