Concussion in the News: Protecting Students from Brain Injuries

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The latest news on concussion, presented by the International Concussion Society

This month, the focus of concussion in the news is on students. Because head trauma before the brain is fully developed causes difficult, lifelong challenges, advocates and parents alike take a special interest in preventing concussions in children and teens. Read on to learn about the concussion news stories the community has been paying attention to.

Oregon House Passes Legislation to Support Students Academically After Concussions

The Oregon House of Representatives passed legislation designed to support students after a concussion or other brain injury. The bill provides students, educators, parents and students with the tools to develop appropriate academic accommodations. “Just like we don’t ask kids to run in PE on a sprained ankle, we must take concussions and brain injuries seriously, even though we cannot see them,” said Representative Courtney Neron, a chief sponsor of the bill.

Bellerose Composite High School SHREDs for science

A country-wide study in Canada, backed by the National Football League, will study concussions in Canadian high school athletes. Surveillance in High Schools to Reduce Concussions and Consequences of Concussions in Youth (SHRED) aims to follow 6,000 Grade 10 students for three years to determine how concussions affect their health and if specific personality traits accelerate their recovery. The study involves 10 universities and will give researchers valuable insight into the long-term consequences of traumatic brain injuries in youth. 

Bowling Green State University Club Sports Get Concussion Protocol

Bowling Green State University recognized the importance of training staff and athletes on concussion safety. Through a partnership with the College of Education and Human Development, Division of Students Affairs–Department of Recreation and Wellness, and the Falcon Health Center, student-athletes will be provided consistent medical care if they sustain a concussion. The Falcon Health Center staff were trained on baseline testing and the signs of a concussion. Now each club sport athlete will register through the center and go through baseline examinations. 

Bigger Risk for Smaller Brains: Concussions in Youth Football

A recent study found that youth football players are more susceptible to experiencing concussion at lower levels of acceleration than older players. Youth athletes 9–14 make up the largest demographic of football players in the U.S., making concussion a concern as it can lead to lifelong consequences. While children collide with less force than do their adult counterparts, their brains are less developed, their neck muscles are weaker and their heads are proportionally larger to their bodies, priming them for head injuries. 

Concussion.org aims to be the most trusted place in the world to learn about one of the most common—yet least understood—forms of traumatic brain injury. For more of the latest concussion information and research, check out our News and Concussion Resources pages.