Concussion Awareness & Management

Danger Signs

Call 911 immediately if signs or symptoms worsen or student has:

• One pupil larger than the other,
• Drowsiness or cannot be awakened,
• A severe or worsening headache,
• Weakness, numbness, or decreased coordination,
• Repeated vomiting or nausea,
• Slurred speech,
• Convulsions or seizures,
• Difficulty recognizing people or places,
• Increasing confusion, restlessness, or agitation,
• Unusual behaviour, or
• Loss of consciousness (even a brief loss of consciousness must be taken seriously).

Description

A concussion:

• Is a brain injury that causes changes in how the brain functions, leading to symptoms that can be physical (e.g., headache, dizziness), cognitive (e.g., difficulty concentrating or remembering), emotional/behavioural (e.g., depression, irritability) and/or related to sleep (e.g., drowsiness, difficulty falling asleep).
• May be caused either by a direct blow to the head, face or neck, or a blow to the body that transmits a force to the head that causes the brain to move rapidly within the skull.
• Can occur even if there has been no loss of consciousness (in fact most concussions occur without a loss of consciousness).
• Cannot normally be seen on X-rays, standard CT scans or MRIs.

POLICY/PROCEDURE REFERENCE
Administrative Procedure 3-27: Concussion Resource Manual
Administrative Procedure 1-25: Injury/Accident Procedure (Student, Visitor and Staff Non-Critical and Critical Injuries)
Policy G-36: Concussions

Forms Required
Administrative Procedure 3-27: Appendix A Suspected Concussion Identification Tool
Administrative Procedure 3-27: Appendix B Concussion Medical Examination Documentation Request Form
Administrative Procedure 3-27: Appendix C Letter of Accommodation for Suspected/Diagnosed Concussions
Administrative Procedure 3-27: Appendix D Final Medical Examination Documentation
Administrative Procedure 3-27: Appendix E Return to Learn/Return to Physical Activity Plan for Suspected/Diagnosed Concussions
Administrative Procedure 3-27: Appendix F Sample Return to Learn/Return to Physical Activity Plan
Online Report – OSBIE