Jun
21
Thursday, June 21, 2012 2:32 PM
Sports are often a meaningful component of a child’s life from a very young age. Being part of a team can help nurture leadership skills, build confidence, and teach cooperation.
Depending on the sport, though, accidents and hard hits can be a frequent occurrence. Coach and parent guidance, proper equipment, and access to a health care professional all help prevent serious injury, but concussions are an ever-present threat.
Each year, 1.6 to 3.8 million sports-related concussions occur, and approximately half of those hospitalized with a head injury are 24-years-old or younger. The challenge lies in the fact that concussions are often difficult to diagnose, especially because fewer than 10% of occurrences result in loss of consciousness.
The infographic below provides some statistics about this issue, how you can best identify a concussion, and how to take action to protect student athletes.
The above inforgraphic and accompany post is courtesy of Nursing License Map in partnership with Nursing@Georgetown. Originally published April 24, 2012 by Brian Childs.