What schools can do
Schools are vital allies in protecting student-athletes from concussion risks. By educating on symptoms, implementing prevention strategies, and supporting recovery, schools create a safer environment for young players both on and off the field.
EDUCATE
Having concussion discussions with players is the first step. Students need to understand the signs and symptoms of concussion and what to do if they suspect they might have a concussion. It's important that they know who to tell to get help and that this is a priority for the adults in their life too.
We know that coaches have the single most influence on the likelihood of a player reporting concussion so the first step in ensuring there are open lines of communication.
All coaches can get support on how to have these discussions when they attend a compulsory RugbySmart or Small Blacks course each year.
PREVENT
There are a bunch of ways you can reduce your risk of getting hurt on the field:
- Warming up before any activity, whether it's before training or a game. This is proven to reduce the risk of injury.
- Use the right protective equipment. Whether it's putting your helmet on when riding your mountain bike, wearing the right shoes for netball or touch rugby, or a mouthguard for league or basketball, get it on
- Take the time to learn the correct technique. This is especially important when tackling.
- If you do get injured, don't rush back into action; you could re-injure yourself. Take your time to get better first
- Prioritise rest and recovery time. That doesn't have to mean staying on the couch. You can do a lower intensity activity like walking or yoga as a great option too.
RECOVER
The process to recover from a concussion involves mental rest and a gradual return to learning, which can be at odds with continuing academic demands of secondary schooling, potentially influencing student stress and recovery. Early detection and a managed return to activity is paramount for timely recovery.
When going back to school or work, some athletes may need to:
- Go back gradually
- Make changes to their schedule so that concussion symptoms do not get worse.
If a particular activity makes symptoms worse, the athlete should stop that activity and rest until symptoms get better.
If the player continues to have symptoms with mental activity, some other things that can help with return to school or work may include:
- Starting school/work day late, only going for half days, or going to a certain class or doing certain tasks
- Taking lots of breaks during the day
- Allowing more time to finish tasks, assignments or tests
- No more than one exam per day
- Working in a quiet room
- Avoiding noisy areas at school or the workplace
- Use of a student helper/tutor
Managing setbacks and persistent symptoms
If at any stage the symptom comes back, players need to return to the previous stage until they are gone. These timeframes are a minimum, sometimes players may need to spend longer in each stage.
Although most players recover within the above timeframes if at 21 days you are still having concussion symptoms we encourage you to seek further medical treatment.