File JJIF: Management of Concussions and Other Head Injuries

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The Board recognizes that concussions and other head injuries are serious and could result in significant brain damage and/or death if not recognized and managed properly.  The Board adopts this policy to promote the safety of students participating in school activities, including but not limited to, extracurricular athletic activities and interscholastic sports.
 
Training

Prior to the beginning of each sports season, athletics-related school personnel (including volunteers) identified by the District’s Concussion Policy Management Team (as defined later in the policy) must be made aware of this school policy and protocols related to the management of concussive injuries and participate in concussion awareness training that includes recognizing signs and symptoms that may suggest a concussive of other head injury.  This training must be consistent with protocols as identified or developed by the Maine Department of Education (DOE) and include instruction in the use of reporting forms as required by the DOE.
 
 
Prior to the beginning of each school year, non-athletics related school personnel (physical education teachers, school nurses, personnel with recess duty) identified by the District’s Concussion Policy Management Team, must be made aware of this school policy and protocols related to the management of concussive injuries and participate in concussion awareness training that includes recognizing signs and symptoms that may suggest a concussive or other head injury.  This training must be consistent with protocols as identified or developed by the Maine Department of Education (DOE) and include instruction in the use of reporting forms as required by the DOE.
 
 
Students and Parents/Guardians

Annually, prior to the beginning of each sports season, students intending to participate in school-sponsored athletic events and parents/guardians of these students will be provided information including:
 
 
A. The risk of concussions and other head injuries and the dangers associated with continuing to participate when a concussion or other head injury is suspected;
 
B. The signs and symptoms associated with concussion and other head injuries; and
 
C. The District’s protocols for:
 
a. Removal of the student from the activity when the student is suspected of having sustained a concussion or other head injury,
 
b. Evaluation and recommendations, and
 
c. Return to full participation in school activities.
 
 
A student participating in sports and his/her parent(s)/guardian(s) must sign a statement acknowledging that they have received and read this information before the student is allowed to participate in any school-sponsored athletic activity. (See JJIF-E- Concussion Information Sheet.)

It is the responsibility of school personnel trained in the signs and symptoms related to concussion or other head injury, to act in accordance with this policy when the staff member recognizes that a student may be exhibiting such signs and symptoms of a concussion.
 
 
Any student suspected of having sustained a concussion or other head injury during a school activity, including, but not limited to participation in interscholastic sports, must be removed from the activity immediately.  A student and his/her parent(s)/guardian(s) will be informed of the need for an evaluation for brain injury before the student is allowed to return to full participation in school activities, including learning.  No student is permitted to participate in subsequent physical activities on the day of a suspected concussion.
 
 
Any student suspected of having sustained a concussion or other head injury is prohibited from further participation in any school activities until he/she is evaluated for concussion and receives written medical clearance to participate from a licensed health care provider trained in concussion management.
 
 
If a concussion is confirmed, the student is not permitted to return to full participation in any school activities until medically cleared to do so by a licensed health care provider trained in concussion management.  More than one evaluation by the student’s health care provider may be necessary before the student is cleared for full participation.
 
 
School personnel shall comply with the student’s treating health care provider’s recommendation (who is trained in concussion management recommendations regarding gradual return to participation).  If at any time during the return to full participation in school activities the student exhibits signs and symptoms of concussion, the student must be removed from the activity and re-evaluated by the treating licensed health care provider (who is trained in concussion management).
 
 
School personnel shall accommodate a gradual return to full participation in activities as appropriate, based on the recommendation of the student’s licensed health care provider (who is trained in concussion management) and appropriate designated school personnel (e.g. 504 Coordinator).
 
 
 
Cognitive Considerations

School personnel should be alert to cognitive and academic issues that may be experienced by a student who has suffered a concussion or other head injury.  These issues include, but are not limited to:
 
● Difficulty with concentration, organization, long-and-short term memory
 
● Sensitivity to bright lights and sounds
 
● Heightened emotions such as sadness and anger
 
 
 
Concussion Policy Management Team 

 
 
The Superintendent will appoint a Concussion Policy Management Team to be responsible, under the supervision of the Superintendent, to make recommendations related to the implementation of this policy.  The Concussion Policy Management Team will include a building principal or assistant principal, a school nurse, an athletic administrator, a certified athletic trainer, and may include the school physician and other school personnel or consultants as the Superintendent deems appropriate.
 
 
The Team shall oversee and implement this policy and related protocols for concussive head injuries.  This team will identify the school personnel who shall be trained in concussion signs and symptoms and the school activities covered by this policy.
 
 
The Team shall review this policy and/or protocols when generally-accepted protocols change.
 
 
FIRST READING:  August 8, 2013
SECOND READING:  September 12, 2013
ADOPTION:  September 12, 2013

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