Dec 18, 2016 • 4 min read
Part 1 of 3 – This post is by Paige Decker from the The Invisible Injury. In November of 2013, while playing for Yale’s Women’s Ice Hockey Team, she suffered a head injury that then only seemed minor. What she couldn’t have predicted then was that the next 22 months (and counting) would consist of a battle with a concussion so severe in its symptoms that it would go on to change her life forever.
Concussion symptoms have been a serious topic of discussion in recent years, especially in the world of youth sports. I’ve been at the forefront of this issue since suffering a concussion of my own during my senior year on the Yale Women’s Ice Hockey team. Throughout this two-year long journey, I have learned a lot about concussions and launched a blog, The Invisible Injury, in September 2015 to share my experience. Based on what I’ve learned, I’ve put together a three-part concussion management guide to educate parents and coaches so they are empowered to protect their kids and know when to act.
To begin, let’s review the 4R’s of concussion management, as advocated by one of the world’s leading concussion experts, Dr. Jeffery Kutcher:
The 4R’s should function as behavioral guidelines when you think there’s a possibility that your child is exhibiting concussion symptoms. In conjunction with the above guidelines, Part II of this concussion management guide will discuss a few important steps that should be taken immediately to ensure children are better protected from concussions. Stay tuned!
Please see Part II or Part III of our concussion guide for further questions or contact us at concussions@leagueside.com.