"If in doubt, sit them out."
That slogan sums up the advice from the Canadian Paediatric Society on the management of concussions, which includes that young children and teens with a concussion should:
- rest until all symptoms are gone.
- not play sports, exercise or participate in any recreational activities.
- limit activities like reading, texting, watching television, computer work and electronic games.
- be cleared by a physician before returning to school or sports.
The Canadian Paediatric Society also advocate for "conservative, cautious and individualized" return to play guidelines for kids after they have a concussion so that they don't start playing too soon.
Perhaps most importantly, their guidelines recommend that "An athlete who has sustained a head injury during sport should be removed from play immediately and not allowed to return to play that game. The athlete should be closely monitored for any signs of deterioration, and should not be left alone."
Letting kids get back in a game after getting hit in the head is often a situation where coaches, players, and parents make a mistake. It is especially important to pull these kids out of the game if these kids have any symptoms, such as a headache, physical signs, such as being unsteady, or if they are confused or have any other abnormal behavior.
If in doubt, sit them out.
Your kids might miss a game or two, but will still be around to play the rest of their life.
Related:
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CDC - Concussion in Sports
Treating Sprains and Strains
Sports Injury
Getting Started in Youth Sports
