A 17 yr old girl, a beautiful teenage athlete, died last May due to a concussion she received in a high school rugby game in Ottawa. Concussions are serious and deserve our attention.
http://www.yourottawaregion.com/news/article/1623073--rugby-death-serves-as-stark-reminder...
A young man I know was benched last week at a competitive soccer tournament because of a concussion. Smart move. He had suffered his first concussion during the winter, in a hockey game. Some would think that with all the high tech equipment our children now wear in such a sport that they are protected. And certainly a 14 year old would not receive something serious like Sidney Crosby did. Right? Wrong!
The young man who was benched had his parents keeping a close eye on him throughout his hockey season. They were smart enough to be concerned He seemed to heal well.
Until he accidentally ran into a soccer referee. His head collided with the ref's elbow. Soccer players wear equipment to protect their legs, not their heads. He hit hard enough that later, on the drive home, he had severe headaches and was vomiting. Bear in mind, he did not hit hard enough to break the referee's elbow, but it was certainly hard enough considering the previous head injury. So, under a doctor's care again, his parents haven't been letting him play soccer. Wise.
Now you might think that would be the end of the story. Not quite. This young man hasn't played a sport since the soccer injury. He felt well. Today he came home from school with blurry vision and feeling nauseous. More than two weeks later. Some parents may have handed him some ibuprofen and told him to lie down for a while. Afterall, he has to study for exams. Don't do it. The effects of a serious concussion can last for months!
I have seen a 13yr old hockey player go almost 4 months before the doctor allowed him back on the ice. Serious stuff.
Please parents, keep a close watch over your children. These injuries are not to be ignored or passed over as insignificant. And the effects of repeated concussions can follow them into and throughout adulthood. Among the issues is a higher chance of dementia as they age. Take a look at this video.
Take the cautious road. Pay attention. When anyone suspects a head injury, have it medically checked out. Don't think that your child will tell you all the symptoms. They might fear you will stop them from playing, maybe thinking they can shake it off, or worse - that their friends will call them a wimp. Better to be safe than sorry. Have them examined by a doctor.
As for the young soccer/hockey player, hang in there buddy. Don't rush this! Be patient with the healing process and get well.
No comments:
Post a Comment