Trumbull Youth Lacrosse

CONCUSSION FACT SHEET

FOR PARENTS

WHAT IS A CONCUSSION?

A concussion is a type of traumatic brain injury. Concussions

are caused by a bump or blow to the head. Even a “ding,”

“getting your bell rung,” or what seems to be a mild bump

or blow to the head can be serious.

You can’t see a concussion. Signs and symptoms of

concussion can show up right after the injury or may not

appear or be noticed until days or weeks after the injury. If

your child reports any symptoms of concussion, or if you

notice the symptoms yourself, seek medical attention right

away.

WHAT ARE THE SIGNS AND

SYMPTOMS OF CONCUSSION?

If your child has experienced a bump or blow to the head

during a game or practice, look for any of the following

signs of a concussion:

SYMPTOMS REPORTED BY ATHLETE:

• Headache or “pressure” in head

• Nausea or vomiting

• Balance problems or dizziness

• Double or blurry vision

• Sensitivity to light

• Sensitivity to noise

• Feeling sluggish, hazy, foggy, or groggy

• Concentration or memory problems

• Confusion

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

SIGNS OBSERVED BY PARENTS/

GUARDIANS:

• Appears dazed or stunned

• Is confused about assignment or position

• Forgets an instruction

• Is unsure of game, score, or opponent

• Moves clumsily

• Answers questions slowly

• Loses consciousness (even briefly)

• Shows mood, behavior, or personality changes

DANGER SIGNS

Be alert for symptoms that worsen over time. Your child

or teen should be seen in an emergency department right

away if s/he has:

• One pupil (the black part in the middle of the eye)

larger than the other

• Drowsiness or cannot be awakened

• A headache that gets worse and does not go away

• Weakness, numbness, or decreased coordination

• Repeated vomiting or nausea

• Slurred speech

• Convulsions or seizures

• Difficulty recognizing people or places

• Increasing confusion, restlessness, or agitation

• Unusual behavior

• Loss of consciousness (even a brief loss of

consciousness should be taken seriously)

WHAT SHOULD YOU DO IF YOU THINK

YOUR CHILD HAS A CONCUSSION?

1. SEEK MEDICAL ATTENTION RIGHT AWAY

A health care professional will be able to decide how

serious the concussion is and when it is safe for your

child to return to regular activities, including sports.

2. KEEP YOUR CHILD OUT OF PLAY.

Concussions take time to heal. Don’t let your child

return to play the day of the injury and until a health

care professional says it’s OK. Children who return to

play too soon - while the brain is still healing - risk a

greater chance of having a second concussion. Repeat

or later concussions can be very serious. They can

cause permanent brain damage, affecting your child for

a lifetime.

3. TELL YOUR CHILD’S COACH ABOUT

ANY PREVIOUS CONCUSSION.

Coaches should know if your child had a previous

concussion. Your child’s coach may not know about a

concussion your child received in another sport or

activity unless you tell the coach.

HOW CAN YOU HELP YOUR CHILD

PREVENT A CONCUSSION OR OTHER

SERIOUS BRAIN INJURY?

• Ensure that they follow their coach’s rules for safety

and the rules of the sport.

• Encourage them to practice good sportsmanship at

all times.

• Make sure they wear the right protective equipment

for their activity. Protective equipment should fit

properly and be well maintained.

• Wearing a helmet is a must to reduce the risk of a

serious brain injury or skull fracture.

• However, helmets are not designed to prevent

concussions. There is no “concussion-proof”

helmet. So, even with a helmet, it is important

for kids and teens to avoid hits to the head.

HOW CAN I HELP MY CHILD RETURN

TO SCHOOL SAFELY AFTER A

CONCUSSION?

Children and teens who return to school after a concussion

may need to:

• Take rest breaks as needed

• Spend fewer hours at school

• Be given more time to take tests or complete

assignments

• Receive help with schoolwork

• Reduce time spent reading, writing, or on the computer

Talk with your child’s teachers, school nurse, coach,

speech-language pathologist, or counselor about your

child’s concussion and symptoms. As your child’s symptoms

decrease, the extra help or support can be removed

gradually.

JOIN THE CONVERSATION www.facebook.com/CDCHeadsUp

Content Source: CDC’s Heads Up Program. Created through a grant to the CDC Foundation from the

National Operating Committee on Standards for Athletic Equipment (NOCSAE).

TO LEARN MORE GO TO: cdc.gov/concussion and

uslacrosse.org/headsuplacrosse