my start of a Concussion PSA
 

Hello.

I am working on a PSA message. *admin edit*
This is my start to a PSA on concussion.
A message for :
Coaches - Importance of Proper Coaching,
ATC/School Medical - Importance of Correct Concussion Treatment
School Administration/ Superintendents - Proper Response for all Student Athletic Safety

Think! PreventIon
Act! Attention
Get It Right! Concussion

This is my story: Two years ago, I had a head injury.
Lacrosse coach required players to wrestle each other.
First two girls at a time. This was video taped and posted to Facebook. Neither girls in video are me. Coach, then had all players wrestle in that same circle. This is when my head injury happen with probable loss of consciousness. I was gotten up off ground and taken to ATC, concussion test showed (4) points below my baseline, I was sent back out on field to tell my coach. My ride home that day was two 16 yr. old players who's car battery died and no one was around to help. They said I was acting funny and called my house. This was the first my mother had been notified. It was 1 1/2 hours after my injury.
That is just the start. I am now 17 years old, I have only been able to go back to my old HS part time. I have cognitive deficits, memory issues, and a lot of fatigue. I have not been medically allowed to play lacrosse or my other sport field hockey and probably never will.
I am lucky, this could have been worse.

My school's Superintendent only response to my parents came a year later. He said,
" With respect to our athletic teams, we are committed to ensuring we provide opportunities for our students with their skill levels along with qualified individuals who adhere to District protocols. I appreciate your position that you are not satisfied with your daughter's experience with Lacrosse, and that is most unfortunate. However, I am satisfied that the District is consistently reviewing and modifying our methods to enhance out athletic opportunities while being mindful and responsible to the safety of our students."

I thought girls lacrosse is a non-contact sport. The boys wear helmets and faceguards so they can play a contact version of lacrosse.

Have your parents spoken with an attorney? Sounds like it would be worthwhile.

Was your baseline determined with the ImPACT system?

It gives a horribly false sense of security.

How is your ImPACT score now? Many symptoms do not show up until a few days or even weeks after the concussion.

Doing an ImPACT test right away is a waste of $10.00 for your school. Your trainer is missing a few water bottles.

You may want to ask to have a full neuro-psych assessment done to determine your current condition.