Brain Injury & Concussions:
Take Concussions Seriously!
Concussions are a type of traumatic brain injury caused by a jolt or blow to the head.
Take concussions seriously!
Did you know?
- Seventy-five percent of the 1.4 million traumatic brain injuries that occur each year
in the United States are concussions or mild brain injuries.
- The most common type of brain injury sustained in sports is a concussion.
- Most concussions do not involve a loss of consciousness.
- You can sustain a head injury even if you do not hit your head or lose consciousness.
- Typically, concussions do not appear in neuroimaging tests such as MRI or CAT
Scans.
- Roughly 1.6 million-3.8 million concussions occur annually in the United States from
sports and other recreation activities.
- The five sports and recreational activities accounting for the most concussions
include bicycling, football, basketball, playground activities and soccer.
- Multiple concussions have cumulative and long-lasting damage and life changes.
Signs and Symptoms of Concussions:
- Dizziness, balance problems
- Difficulty with vision
- Sensitivity to light or noise
- Nausea
- Headache
- Feeling tired or groggy
- Confusion
- Difficulty remembering or recalling things
- Difficulty concentrating on tasks
If You've Had a Concussion
- Always make sure to inspect any bumps or bruises on your head.
- Tell a family member, friend, coach or teammate if you fall.
- Ask to be taken out of the game or sporting event if you hit your head while playing.
- Pay attention: have you had any physical changes recently?
- Watch out for thinking problems: if you are struggling to remember things or lose
focus, tell someone.
- Talk to parents, teachers and medical professionals about any troubles you are
having.
- See a health care professional.
- Get plenty of sleep each night. Adequate rest is crucial to staying
healthy and healing after any injury.
- Return to practice only after receiving the OK from your health care professional.