Preventin Strategies fr Cncussins PREVENTION: Minimizing the Risk f Cncussins Educatin is the prime factr in supprting the preventin f a cncussin. Any time a student/ athlete is invlved in physical activity there is a chance ff sustaining a cncussin. Therefre it is imprtant t take a preventative apprach when dealing with cncussins and t mitigate the severity f the injury. Prir t any activity, schl staff (includes administrati in staff, teaching staff, supprt staff, caches, vlunteers, etc.) must meet with participantss t prvide instructin n strategies fr preventing and minimizing the risk f sustaining a cncussin and ther head injuries. Schl staff shuld refer t the sectins n Preventin and Cncussin Educatin in the HDSB Cncussin Prtcl, as well as the Haltn District Schl Bard Safety Guidelines relevant t each sprt/activity (e.g., Curricular Mdule 1, Intramural Mdule 2, and Interschl Mdule 3). The preventin strategies have been rganized int tw main sectins accrding t when they shuld be implemented: thse strategies that shuld be used prir t physical activity (at the beginning f the schl year), physical educatin class and/r prir t the sprt seasn (e.g., interschl teams, intramural/club activities); thse strategies that shuld be used during physical activity, physical educatin class and/r a sprt seasn r intramural/club activities. Adapted frm Ontari Physical Educatin Safety Guidelines Interschl Appendix C-5 Sample Cncussin Preventin
Preventin Strategies fr Cncussins Prir t physical activity (at the beginning f the schl year), physical educatin class and/r prir t the sprt seasn (e.g., interschl teams, intramural/club activities); a) Teachers/caches/supervisrs shuld: be knwledgeable f HDSB s cncussin plicy and prcedures fr preventin, identificatin, and management (Return t Learn and Return t Physical Activity); dcument safety lessns and discussins relatedd t the activity as part f lessn plans r caching ntes be knwledgeable abut safe practices in the sprt/activity (e.g., the rules and regulatins and the specific sprt/activity pagess in the HDSB Safety Guidelines); be familiar with the riskss f a cncussin r ther ptentiall injuries assciated with the activity/sprt and hw t minimize thse risks; be up t date with rule changes and prtcls assciated with minimizing the riskss f cncussins as enfrced by HDSB, the Athletic Assciatins and Referees be up t date with current bdy cntact skills and techniques f the sprt/activity (e.g., safe tackling in tackle ftball), and emphasize the imprtance f keeping head up and aviding cllisins, when caching/supervising cntact activities; be knwledgeable (where applicable) with the requirements fr wearing helmets. Nte: T date there is n evidence that helmetss prtect against cncussins.) Fr mre infrmatin n helmets pleasee see the Generic Sectin f HDSB Interschl Safety Guidelines; Adapted frm Ontari Physical Educatin Safety Guidelines Interschl Appendix C-5 Sample Cncussin Preventin
Preventin Strategies fr Cncussins determine that prtective equipment is apprved by a recgnized equipment standards assciatin (e.g., CSA, NOCSAE), is well maintained, and is visually inspected prir t activity; and determine (where applicable) that prtective equipment iss inspected within apprved timelines, by a certified re-cnditiner as required by manufacturer (e.g., ftball helmet); athletes and parents/guardians must be infrmed f the imprtance f determining that the equipment is in gd wrking rder and suitable fr persnal use b) Student/athletes shuld knw and understand: definitin f a cncussin; causes f cncussins signs and symptms f cncussins the risks f a cncussin assciated with the activity/sprt and hw t minimize thse risks seriusness f cncussins and the dangers f participating in an activity while experiencing the signs and symptms f a cncussin and ptential lng-term cnsequences the HDSB Cncussin Prtcl Identificatin andd Management prcedures: Tl t Identify a Cncussin (C2) and Summary Return t Learn/Return t Physical Activity Plan Adapted frm Ontari Physical Educatin Safety Guidelines Interschl Appendix C-5 Sample Cncussin Preventin
Preventin Strategies fr Cncussins And the imprtance f: respecting the rules f the game and practising fairr play (e.g., t fllw the rules and ethics f play, t practice gd sprtsmanship at all times and t respect their ppnents and fficials); immediately infrming the teacher/cac ch f any signs r symptms f a cncussin, and remving themselves frm the activity; encuraging a teammate with signs r symptms t remve themselves frm the activity and t infrm the teacher/cach; infrming the teacher/cachh when a classmate/teammate has signs r symptms f a cncussin; the use f helmet when they are required fr a sprt/activity, Nte: Helmets d nt prevent cncussins. Helmets are designed t prtect against and prevent skull fractures, majr brain injuries (including bleeding int r arund the brain), brain cntusins, laceratins and facial injuries; helmets are t be prperly fitted and wrn crrectly (e.g., nly ne finger shuld fit between the strap and the chin when strap is dne up). Adapted frm Ontari Physical Educatin Safety Guidelines Interschl Appendix C-5 Sample Cncussin Preventin
Preventin Strategies fr Cncussins c) Parents/guardians t be infrmed f the: definitin f a cncussin; signs and symptms f a cncussin; risks and pssible mitigatins f the activity/sprt; the HDSB Cncussin Prtcl Identificatin andd Management prcedures: Tl t Identify a Cncussin (C2), Dcumentatin f Mnitring/Medical Examinatin Frm (C3) and Return t Learn/Return t Physical Activity Plan (C4) dangers f participating with a cncussin; imprtance f encuraging the ethical values ff fair play and respect fr ppnents. Adapted frm Ontari Physical Educatin Safety Guidelines Interschl Appendix C-5 Sample Cncussin Preventin
Preventin Strategies fr Cncussins During physical activity, physical educatin class and/r a sprt seasn r intramural/club activities: a) teachers/caches /supervisrs shuld: teach skills and techniques in the prper prgressin; dcument safety lessns and discussins relatedd t the activity as part f lessn plans r caching ntes prvide activity/sprt-specific cncussin infrmatin when pssible; teach and enfrce the rules and regulatins f the sprt/activity during practices and games/cmpetitin (particularly thse that limit r eliminate bdy cntact, r equipment n bdy cntact); reinfrce the principles f head-injury preventin (e.g., keeping the head up and aviding cllisin); infrm students abut the imprtance f prtective equipment fitting crrectly (e.g., helmets, padding, guards). teach students/athletes invlved in bdy cntact activities: sprt-specific rules and regulatins f bdy cntact (e.g., n hits t the head). bdy cntact skills and techniques and require the successful demnstratin f these skills in practice prir t cmpetitin. Adapted frm Ontari Physical Educatin Safety Guidelines Interschl Appendix C-5 Sample Cncussin Preventin
Preventin Strategies fr Cncussins demnstrate and rle mdel the ethical values f fair play and respect fr ppnents; encurage students/athletes t fllw the ruless f play, and t practice fair play; supprt student athletes recvering frm a cncussin and nly allw return t play when they have received full cnsent frm medical dctr (C4, Step 4) ). discurage thers frm pressuring injured students/athletes t play/participate; use game/match fficials in higher-risk interschl sprts that are knwledgeable, certified and/r experienced in fficiating the sprt; Nte: Students/athletes wh are absent fr safety lessns (e.g. infrmatin, skills, techniques) must be prvided with the infrmatin and training prir t the next activity sessins b) students/athletes shuld: be familiar with the seriusness f cncussins and the signs and symptms f cncussin; adhere t the safety rules f the sprt/activity and use strategies t maximize safe participatin (i.e., aviding cllisins, keeping the head up); demnstrate safe cntact skills during cntrlled practice sessins prir t cmpetitin; demnstrate respect fr the mutual safety f fellw athletes (e.g., n hits t the head, fllw the rules and regulatins f the activity); wear prperly fitted prtective equipment; reprt any sign r symptm f a cncussin immediately t teacher/cach frm a hit, fall r cllisin;
Preventin Strategies fr Cncussins encurage team mates/fellw students t reprt sign(s) r symptm(s) f a cncussin and t refrain frm pressuring injured students/ /athletes t play. Nte: Students/athletes wh are absent fr safety lessns (e.g. infrmatin, skills, techniques) must be prvided with the infrmatin and training prir t the next activity sessins Adapted frm Ontari Physical Educatin Safety Guidelines Interschl Appendix C-5 Sample Cncussin Preventin
Preventin Strategies fr Cncussins