December 2011 - Parks & Recreation - 22

Who, What, Where & hoW around the Parks

coNcUSSIoN TIPS
KNOW THE SYMPTOMS OF A CONCUSSION
headache or skull pressure
■■ Vision problems or sensitivity to light
■■ Dizziness
■■ nausea or vomiting
■■ confusion, disorientation, or memory loss
■■ A feeling of sluggishness or fogginess
■■

Attempt to form partnerships with head injury
specialists and researchers in your area
■■ Youth sports players are among the most
underserved population when it comes to concussion
care, which puts them at risk for cumulative effects
■■

a concussion. The test is first taken while
healthy, establishing a baseline, and administered again as one of the fi nal steps
in determining when someone is no longer suffering a concussion's effects.
As public concern over concussions
grows, other parks and recreation administrators and staffers might naturally
be inclined to follow Franklin Lakes' lead.
Which might not be the best idea.
" These exams are a tool, " Caswell explains. " They are designed to be used by
a qualified and well-trained healthcare
professional who understands concussions. They're really not intended to be
used by untrained and unqualified nonmedical professionals, such as coaches,
parents, and administrators. "
James Kozlowski, an attorney specializing in the legal aspects of parks
and recreation administration (and a
regular Parks & Recreation contributor),
agrees. " Right now I don't think it is the
community's responsibility for doing it, "

Parks & Recreation D E C E M B E R

helmet technology and concussion knowledge are
always changing. " the best helmet is a new helmet, " Dr.
caswell says.

KNOW LOCAL CONCUSSION LAWS

cDc heads up program offers trainings, posters,
and more: http://www.cdc.gov/concussion/
headsup/high_school.html

EDUCATE YOUR LEAGUES, COACHES,
PARENTS, AND STAFF

EMPHASIZE THE IMPORTANCE OF NEW EQUIPMENT
■■

Return to play laws vary by region. know
your regional requirements and be sure your
leagues follow them.

■

WHEN IN DOUBT, HOLD THEM OUT
encourage your leagues to limit return to
play if there is any question of a player's
fitness.
■ Do not allow same day return to play for
any concussions, and require players to see
their own qualified medical professional.
■

Kozlowski says. " Just because some people are doing it doesn't mean you're negligent for not doing it. "
In fact, Kozlowski explains, adding this
requirement might open parks and rec
agencies to more liability rather than less.
" In this whole area oftentimes less
is more, " he says. " At this point in time,
there's no requirement that that be done.
But if you assume that you're going to do
it, you'd better do it right. "
The popularity of cognitive baseline
tests (ImPACT being the best-known
brand) stems partly from their use on the
professional level. But even NFL athletic
trainers express skepticism that these tests
are the best way to help younger athletes.
According to Larry Hess, head athletic trainer for the Washington Redskins,

2 0 1 1 w w w . N R P A . O R G

" The biggest thing now is heightened
awareness. There's more awareness of
the signs and symptoms and more education, and I think that's what we have to
get across to the youth athletes and the
people that are around them every day. "
Again, Caswell agrees. SMART Lab has
partnered with Central Loudoun (Virginia)
Youth Football, a nonprofit league for ages
6-14 that uses municipal fields, and implemented a more holistic approach to concussions and sports injuries. The league
maintains a safety commissioner, handling
general league safety procedures, and has
entered into an affiliate agreement with
George Mason University, paying a portion
of the tuition for one of Caswell's graduate
assistants-a Certified Athletic Trainer-to
serve as the medical authority at nearly all
of their league games.
" There are multiple benefits , " league
president Roly Rigual explains. " Not only
do we get the benefit and security of having a medically trained person at these

Junial enterPriSeS/david lee/ShutterStock

STAY INFORMED
■■

ENCOURAGE LEAGUES TO HAVE A SAFETY PLAN,
AND IF POSSIBLE, AN ATHLETIC TRAINER

December 2011 - Parks & Recreation

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