Concussions and Kids: Learning to Spot the Injury

Andrew Mollenbeck
wtop.com
October 7, 2010

WASHINGTON - As concern for understanding concussions has increased, youth leagues are participating in training seminars and using computer analysis programs to better diagnose the injury.

"The lack of awareness, the lack of knowledge, the lack of skill as to what to do when a youngster is injured is putting kids at risk, and we need to change that," says Gerard Gioia, director of the Safe Concussion Outcome, Recovery & Education (SCORE) program at Children's National Medical Center.

By Gioia's estimate, dozens of youth leagues in the Washington area have worked with SCORE. League officials, coaches and parents meet on nights or weekends to learn from video and ask questions.

"The whole idea here really is to specifically educate coaches and parents and kids about what is this injury, what are the signs and symptoms they need to understand," he says.

Programs with more limited resources can at minimum access tools made available by the Centers for Disease Control. Its initiative, "Heads Up: Concussion in Youth Sports" offers similar information for players and coaches.

Read more HERE.