With both football season and the Super Bowl in the recent past, some people experience contact sports in a way that leaves a dangerous, lasting impression.
According to the Sacramento Bee, the Brain Injury Alliance of New Jersey and the Partners for Health Foundation have launched a new website to educate the public about the dangers of concussions and related traumatic brain injuries. The website, appropriately called “SportsConcussion.com” is aimed at spreading the word about the tragic dangers faced by today’s athletes.
The website provides helpful information to athletes, coaches, athletic trainers, parents, school nurses, and physicians, who all play an important role in preventing lasting brain injuries. When these people are better equipped to recognize the signs and symptoms of a concussion, they are more prepared to provide appropriate care.
The Brain Injury Alliance of New Jersey has played an important role in educating the public about sports concussions and related injuries. In 2006, the Alliance hosted a large Youth Sports Summit at Giants Stadium, educating “leaders of state and national organizations committed to the health and safety of today’s youth.” The symposium was the first of a series of initiatives to protect young athletes in America. Among the greatest victories celebrated by the Alliance, is the passage of the New Jersey Concussion Law in 2010, signed into law by Governor Christy.
The law specifically explains the need for legislation, explaining that 62,000 of the 300,000 estimated concussions sustained by athletes each year in America are specifically attributed to high school athletes. It further explains that a concussion can “disrupt the normal functioning of the brain,” and “cause significant and sustained neuropsychological impairments including, but not limited to problem-solving, planning, memory, and behavioral problems.” It is no surprise that these types of brain functions are necessary for high school students to possess in order to succeed in school.
Concussions can vary in severity, and many factors contribute to the danger presented by sustaining a concussion. For those who experience a second concussion while their brain and body is still experiencing trauma from a previous concussion, severe impairment or even death may occur.
The New Jersey Concussion Law sets forth the following important measures:
- An interscholastic athletic head safety training program, created by physicians, trainers, and coaches.
- A requirement that each school district creates a specific written policy concerning prevention and treatment.
- Guidelines pertaining to an injured student’s removal from and return to athletic participation.
- Requirements for athletic trainers relating to continued education.
The law also contains important information, providing schools and school employees with immunity from liability in certain situations. If you or a loved one has suffered from a concussion, it is essential to be aware of the duties that may have been owed to you by the person who caused it, or by those responsible for supervising the activity that caused it. Contact an experienced attorney to ensure the greatest possibility of success for your case.