Concussion Management Policy

Fordham Prep partners with NYU Langone Health Concussion Center for prevention education and care for students with a concussion through sports, physical education class, or any other injury sustained at school or at home. Below is our Concussion Management Policy, which can also be found on page 46 of our Student and Parent Handbook. If your son suffers a concussion, the Physician Concussion Evaluation Form must be completed and returned to Mr. John Mercorella '07, Assistant Principal of Student Life, at mercorej@fordhamprep.org.

NYU Langone Health Concussion Center Contact Information and Referral Card

Concussion Management Policy

Fordham Prep partners with NYU Langone Health Concussion Center for the safety and care of all students with regards to concussion.

1. Overview: Concussion is a type of traumatic brain injury. It is a reaction by the brain moving back and forth or rapidly twisting inside the skull. It can occur from a fall, motor vehicle accident, or any other activity that results in an impact to the head or body.

2. Prevention: In September, all Fordham Prep freshmen, juniors, and athletes take a baseline ImPACT concussion test (every two years). It is a computerized test which takes about 25 minutes to complete. The ImPACT Test measures verbal and visual memory, processing speed, and reaction time. Fordham Prep coaches attend annual CPR and first aid classes and are trained to observe signs and symptoms of concussion. If an athlete is suspected to have a concussion, he is removed from play and evaluated by a coach or trainer. (A trainer may not be available at all practices or games.) The athlete’s parent/guardian is notified while the athlete continues to be monitored.

3. Communication: Parents/guardians of all students should report a concussion to the Assistant Principal for Academics and Student Life in all instances (e.g. sports related, in school, at home).

4. Policy: The athlete must be evaluated by a physician. If concussion is ruled out, the physician must provide a written clearance note for the school nurse, Athletic Director, and Attendance Officer stating that the athlete is cleared to return to physical activity. If the athlete is diagnosed with a concussion, he needs to submit a note to the school nurse, Athletic Director, and Attendance Officer. After the prescribed rest period and when he is symptom free, the athlete needs to be re-evaluated and cleared by the physician with a written note.  When he returns to school, he will take the ImPACT Post Injury Test. The evaluating physician then faxes his report and recommendations back to the Athletic Director. The post ImPACT evaluation, hopefully, is available and faxed within a day or two. If the athlete’s parent/guardian decide to have a son evaluated by a neurologist, that evaluation supersedes the ImPACT Test results, but the athlete must still do the three-day return to play protocol described below.

5. Return to Play Protocol

   • Day 1: 15 minutes of light cardio: jogging, stationary bike, etc.

   • Day 2: 15-20 minutes of sport specific drills without contact.

   • Day 3: Practice normal sport specific drills with light contact.

   • After the 3rd day, if the athlete has no recurring signs and symptoms of concussion, he is cleared to return to full play/practice on the 4th day.

Addendum A: New York State Scholastic Athlete Fact Sheet on Concussion

What is a concussion?

A concussion is a brain injury that:

• Is caused by a blow to the head or body, from contact with another player, hitting a hard surface such as the ground, ice or floor, or being hit by a piece of equipment.

• Can change the way your brain normally works.

• Can range from mild to severe.

• Presents itself differently for each athlete.

• Can occur during practice or competition in ANY sport.

• Can happen even if you do not lose consciousness.

What are the symptoms of a concussion?

You can’t see a concussion, but you might notice some of the symptoms right away. Other symptoms can show up hours or days after the injury.

Concussion symptoms include:

• Amnesia

• Confusion

• Headache

• Loss of consciousness

• Balance problems or dizziness

• Double or fuzzy vision

• Sensitivity to light or noise

• Nausea (feeling that you might vomit)

• Feeling sluggish, foggy or groggy

• Feeling unusually irritable

• Concentration or memory problems (forgetting game plays, facts, meeting times)

• Slowed reaction time

Exercise or activities that involve a lot of concentration, such as studying, working on the computer, or playing video games may cause concussion symptoms (such as headache or tiredness) to reappear or get worse.

What should I do if I think I have a concussion?

• Don’t hide it. Tell your athletic trainer, coach, and parents. Never ignore a blow to the head. Also, tell your athletic trainer and coach if one of your teammates might have a concussion. Sports have injury timeouts and player substitutions so that you can get checked out.
• Report it. Do not return to participation in a game, practice or other activity with symptoms. The sooner you get checked out, the sooner you may be able to return to play.
• Get checked out. Your physician, athletic trainer, or health care professional can tell you if you have had a concussion and when you are cleared to return to play. A concussion can affect your ability to perform everyday activities, your reaction time, balance, sleep, and classroom performance.
• Take time to recover. If you have had a concussion, your brain needs time to heal. While your brain is still healing, you are much more likely to have a repeat concussion. In rare cases, repeat concussions can cause permanent brain damage, and even death. Severe brain injury can change your whole life. Once cleared to resume activity by the physician, you will follow a Return-To-Play Protocol.

How can I prevent a concussion?

Basic steps you can take to protect yourself from concussion:

• Do not initiate contact with your head or helmet. You can still get a concussion if you are wearing a helmet.

• Avoid striking an opponent in the head. Undercutting, flying elbows, stepping on a head, checking an unprotected opponent, and sticks to the head all cause concussions.

• Follow your athletics department’s rules for safety and the rules of the sport.

• Practice good sportsmanship at all times.

• Practice and perfect the skills of the sport.

Reference: 2010 NCAA Concussion Fact Sheet for Student-Athletes