One must not underestimate the important role parents play in the diagnosis and management of concussions in their children, whether the injury was sustained during a game or from some other activity.
I interviewed Chase O’Neill, the high school soccer player mentioned in “State steps in with tough concussion law for youth athletes” (TNT, 9-20) for a video designed to help educate coaches, parents and athletes. Chase was unaware for 24 hours that something was seriously amiss and did not remember much of what turned out to be her last soccer game.
At the top of her class academically, she has had to struggle mightily to maintain her grades. Alarmingly, she was medically cleared to play a few days after her injury. So was my son. After he sustained a sports-related concussion last year, it took me five days to convince school and medical personnel that something was seriously wrong. He deteriorated enough to be sent to Harborview, starting the most frightening four months of our lives.
He recovered and is participating in sports again, in part because he left the game before he was hit again. Parents must educate themselves about the signs, symptoms and dangers of concussions. We know when something isn’t “right” with our kids. Don’t ignore the signs, no matter how subtle, and don’t let your children ignore the symptoms.
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