Safe & Accepting Schools

A concussion is:

• is a brain injury that causes changes in the way in which the brain functions and that can lead to symptoms that can be physical, cognitive, emotional/behavioural, and/or related to sleep
• may be caused either by a direct blow to the head, face, or neck or by a blow to the body that transmits a force to the head that causes the brain to move rapidly within the skull
• can occur even if there has been no loss of consciousness (in fact, most concussions occur without a loss of consciousness)
• cannot normally be seen by means of medical imaging tests, such as X-rays, standard computed tomography (CT) scans, or magnetic resonance imaging (MRI) scans.

You can’t see a concussion. Signs and symptoms of a concussion can show up right away or hours, or even days after the injury. Common signs and symptoms of a concussion are:

Physical: headache, pressure in the head, dizziness, nausea or vomiting, blurred vision, sensitivity to light our sound, ringing in ears, tired or low energy, drowsiness, “don’t feel right”

Cognitive (thinking): not thinking, slower thinking, feeling confused, problems concentrating, problems remembering

Emotional: irritability (easily upset or angered), depression, sadness, nervous or anxious

Sleep-related: sleeping more or less than usual, or having a hard time falling asleep

Recognizing only one sign or symptom is enough to suspect a concussion. Most people with a concussion do not lose consciousness (Ontario Ministry of Tourism, Culture, and Sport, 2022)

“Red flags” indicate that a person may have sustained a more serious injury. If you recognize red flags, treat them as an emergency and call 911 right away.

Red flags include:

• Neck pain or tenderness
• Double vision
• Weakness or tingling in arms or legs
• Severe or increasing headache
• Seizure or convulsion
• Loss of consciousness (knocked out)
• Vomiting more than once
• Increasingly restless, agitated or aggressive
• Getting more and more confused

(Ontario Ministry of Tourism, Culture, and Sport, 2022)

1. Keep your child out of physical activity – If you suspect your child has a concussion, remove your child from the sport and physical activity, even if they insist that they are fine.

2. Seek the advice of a medical doctor or nurse practitioner right away – A medical doctor/nurse practitioner experienced in evaluating concussions c

Call 911 if you are concerned the injury is life-threatening, such as the child is unconscious or they had a seizure.

3. Inform your child’s coaches and the school administrator about any concussions. If needed, they can help to adjust your child’s school activities during their recovery.

Every sport is different, but there are steps your child can take to protect themselves from concussions and other injuries, including:

• Make sure they wear the right protective equipment for their activity. It should fit properly, be well maintained, and be worn consistently and correctly.
• Encourage them to always practice fair play.