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CONCUSSION INFORMATION

FOR ATHLETES

What is a Concussion?

A concussion is a type of traumatic brain injury—or TBI— caused by a bump, blow, or jolt to the head or by a hit to the body that causes the head and brain to move quickly back and forth. This fast movement can cause the brain to bounce around or twist in the skull, creating chemical changes in the brain and sometimes stretching and damaging the brain cells.

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Symptoms to watch out for:

  • Headache or “pressure” in head

  • Nausea or vomiting

  • Balance problems or dizziness, or double or blurry vision

  • Bothered by light or noise

  • Feeling sluggish, hazy, foggy, or groggy

  • Confusion, or concentration or memory problems

  • Just not “feeling right,” or “feeling down”

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For more information: HEADS UP to Youth Sports: Youth

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FOR PARENTS

The free CDC HEADS UP Concussion and Helmet Safety app will help you learn how to spot a possible concussion and what to do if you think your child or teen has a concussion or other serious brain injury.

How Can I Help Keep My Children or Teens Safe?

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Sports are a great way for children and teens to stay healthy and can help them do well in school. To help lower your children’s or teens’ chances of getting a concussion or other serious brain injury, you should:

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Help create a culture of safety for the team.

  • Work with their coach to teach ways to lower the chances of getting a concussion.

  • Talk with your children or teens about concussion and ask if they have concerns about reporting a concussion. Talk with them about their concerns; emphasize the importance of reporting concussions and taking time to recover from one.

  • Ensure that they follow their coach’s rules for safety and the rules of the sport.

  • Tell your children or teens that you expect them to practice good sportsmanship at all times.

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When appropriate for the sport or activity, teach your children or teens that they must wear a helmet to lower the chances of the most serious types of brain or head injury. However, there is no “concussion-proof” helmet. So, even with a helmet, it is important for children and teens to avoid hits to the head.

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For more information: HEADS UP to Youth Sports: Parents

FOR COACHES

Get prepared for the new season.

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HEADS UP to Youth Sports is a free, online course available to coaches, parents, sports officials, athletic trainers, and others helping to keep athletes safe from concussion.

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Coaches: Click HERE to launch the course.

Please see How to Create an Account in CDC Train for instructions.

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Privacy Notice: You will be asked to provide your e-mail address if you decide to register for the online training. Please note that it is not necessary to register for the training in order to use this site. Your registration is voluntary. Any information that you provide is fully protected. It is stored temporarily and used only for online training registration purposes.

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Additional Training Resource Information:https://www.cdc.gov/headsup/resources/training.html

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