Bald Eagle Area School District: Concussion Management Plan

XI. Bald Eagle Area School District Concussion Management Plan

In accordance with recommendations by Law in the State of Pennsylvania, in accordance with Senate Bill 200(SB 200), also known as “Safety in Youth Sports Act, the Bald Eagle Area School District has adopted a policy for its student-athletes participating in interscholastic athletics.

The Safety in Youth Sports Act, Pennsylvania Senate Bill 200, (Section 1) Establishes standards in the state of Pennsylvania for managing concussions and traumatic brain injuries to student-athletes.

This policy also includes students involved in an athletic contest or competition that is sponsored by, or associated with the Bald Eagle Area School District, including cheerleading, club sponsored sports activities, and sports activities sponsored by the school district’s affiliated organizations. This includes practices, interschool practices, and scrimmages as outlined in Section 2 under “Athletic Activity” in accordance with this Act.

A copy of Pennsylvania Senate Bill 200 is attached with this Concussion Management Plan.  (Document 1)

1. Definitions (Section 2)

1. Appropriate Medical Professional

1. A Licensed Physician who is trained in the evaluation and management or concussions or a Licensed or Certified Health Care Professional trained in the evaluation and management of concussions and designated by such Licensed Physician. The Licensed Athletic Trainer(s) are the Appropriate Health Care Professional(s) and the Licensed Physician designee, trained to provide concussion evaluation and management under the Standard Operating Procedures.
2. A Licensed Psychologist neuropsychological trained in the evaluation and management of concussions or who has post-doctoral training in neuropsychology and specific training in the evaluation and management of concussions.

2. Specific Head Injuries

1. Concussion or Mild Traumatic Brain Injury (MTBI)- A concussion or MTBI is the common result of a blow to the head or body which causes the brain to move rapidly within the skull. This injury causes brain function to change which results in an altered mental state (either temporary or prolonged). Physiologic and/or anatomic disruptions of connections between some nerve cells in the brain occur. Concussions can have serious and long-term health effects, even from a mild bump on the head.                                                      

Symptoms include, but are not limited to: brief loss of consciousness, headache, amnesia, nausea, dizziness, confusion, blurred vision, ringing in the ears, loss of balance, moodiness, poor concentration or mentally slow, lethargy, photosensitivity, sensitivity to noise, and a change in sleeping patterns. These symptoms may be temporary or long lasting.                                                                                                                                                                                      

2. Second Impact Syndrome-(SIS)- Refers to catastrophic events which may occur when a second concussion occurs while the athlete is still symptomatic and healing from a previous concussion. The second injury may occur within days or weeks following the first injury. Loss of consciousness is not required. The second impact is more likely to cause brain swelling with other widespread damage to the brain. This can be fatal. Most often SIS occurs when an athlete returns to activity without being symptom free from the previous concussion.

2.  Appropriate Health Care Plan For The District

1. The Bald Eagle Area School District provides an appropriate healthcare plan that includes equitable access to athletics healthcare providers for each sport.
2. The Bald Eagle Area School District provides healthcare to all student-athletes participating in interscholastic athletics, cheerleading, and club sponsored sports activities. This healthcare is provided by the Licensed Athletic Trainer(s) that provide coverage for after school practices, scrimmages, and scheduled interscholastic athletic events.
3. The Licensed Athletic Trainer(s) on staff at the Bald Eagle Area School District follow Standard Operating Procedures (SOP), in accordance with the Pennsylvania Board of Medicine and Osteopathic Medicine. This SOP is provided by the Bald Eagle Area School District Team Physician and agreed upon in writing by the district administration.

3. Educational Materials Related to Concussions and Traumatic Brain injuries (Section 3 (a))

1. The Pennsylvania Department of Health and Department of Education

Shall develop and post on their Internet websites guidelines and other relevant materials to inform and educate students participating in or desiring to participate in an athletic activity, their parents and their coaches, about the nature and risk of concussion and head injury, including the risks associated with continuing to play or practice after a concussion or head injury. In developing the guidelines and materials, the departments shall utilize existing materials developed by the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention.                                                                                                                                                                    

2. Bald Eagle Area School District policies for Concussion Management Planning In- accordance with SB 200 (Section 3 (a)):

1. The Bald Eagle Area School District shall require each school year, that student-athletes participating in or desiring to participate in an athletic activity, and the student’s parent/guardian, prior to participation by the student in an athletic activity, sign and return to the district an acknowledgement of receipt and review of a concussion and traumatic brain injury information sheet developed in accordance with the “Safety in Youth Sports Act”.  In signing this information sheet, student-athletes and the parent/guardian accepts the responsibility for reporting their injuries and illnesses to the school district’s medical staff (Staff Licensed Athletic Trainers), including signs and symptoms of concussions. This form is attached as Document 3.
2. PIAA CIPPE Form (Attached with Pre-Participation Physical Packet)

The Bald Eagle Area School District requires all student-athletes and parent/guardian to review and sign the PIAA Concussion Information Sheet as part of the Comprehensive Initial Pre-Participation Physical Evaluation (CIPPE) required by the PIAA.

3.  Baseline Testing – Concussion Vital Signs

The Bald Eagle Area School District will record a baseline assessment for each student-athlete prior to the first practice in the sports of baseball, basketball, cheerleading, football, soccer, softball, track and field, volleyball, and wrestling, at a minimum. The same baseline assessment tools should be used post-injury at appropriate time intervals. Baselines will be updated every three years.

1. The baseline assessment should be considered one or more of the following areas of assessment:

Baseline for All Student-Athletes will include:

1. Standardized Assessment for Concussion (SAC Evaluation Form)
2. Graded Symptom Checklist
3. BESS
4. VOMS (Vestibular Oculomotor Screen)- VOS Form
5. VOR – (Visual Ocular Reflex)- Pursuit, Saccades, Accommodation
6. Concussion Vital Signs Post Injury Test

2. All students who participate in athletics at Bald Eagle Area are eligible for

and required to complete baseline testing prior to participating in their sports season.

3. Any student athlete who suffers a concussion will be baseline retested before the next academic/athletic year.                                                                                
4. Additionally, neuropsychological testing (e.g. computerized, standard paper and

            Pencil) has been shown to be effective in the evaluation and management of                         

concussion. The development and implementation of a neuropsychological testing program should be performed in consultation with a neuropsychologist. Ideally, post injury neuropsychological test data should be interpreted by a neuropsychologist.

4. Informational Meeting on Concussions and Traumatic Brain Injuries

The Bald Eagle Area School District will hold an informational meeting prior to the start of each athletic season for all student-athletes, parents and/or guardians, and coaches regarding concussions and other head injuries, the importance of proper concussion management and how neurocognitive testing can aid in the evaluation, management and recovery process. All members of the district coaching staff, Head and Assistants, are required to attend these informational meetings each school year. Student-athletes and their parent(s)/guardian(s) are required to attend at least one informational meeting per school year.

5. Removal from Participation in Athletic Activity following Concussions and Traumatic Brain Injuries (Section 3 (c))

1. Athlete Assessed with Concussion or Traumatic Brain Injury

A student-athlete who, as determined by a licensed or certified health care provider, whose scope of practice includes the management and evaluation of concussions, coach from the student's team, game official or other official designated by the student's school entity, exhibits signs or symptoms of a concussion or head injury while participating in an athletic activity, shall be removed from participation at that time. The student shall not return to participation until they are evaluated and cleared for return to participation in writing by a licensed or certified health care practitioner whose scope of practice includes the management and evaluation of concussions.

1. The Bald Eagle Area School District shall require the immediate removal of the Student-Athlete from athletic activity after sustaining a concussion or traumatic brain injury.

 The athlete may not re