Concussion / Head Injury Notification Form
You, or a person under your care, has received an injury which may result in concussion. Please be aware that symptoms may develop over the next 24-48 hours.
If the injured person develops any of the following symptoms you should take them to the hospital or ring 000 IMMEDIATELY:
| Symptoms to look out for: | |
|---|---|
| Vomiting | Has a fit, convulsion or seizure |
| Speaking with slur | Stand unbalanced or staggered walking |
| Develops dizziness or drowsiness | Develops headaches or nausea |
| Slow reactions | Unusual behaviour |
| Cannot be roused from sleep | Sensitive ot light or noise |
| Irritable or aggressive | Memory difficulties |
| Difficulty following simple instructions | Appears vague,confused or disorientated |
| Develops "pins & needles"or numbness | Difficulty recalling simple information |
It is important for recovery that the injured person has both mental and physical rest for a period of 24-48 hours. This means minimal use of phone and computer screens is advised with no work or school work and minimal physical exertion – if they would normally compete in another sport or have training within this 48- hour period then this should not occur.
Following a diagnosis of concussion, prior to resumption of play you will need to follow the protocol that is specific to your sport, but the stages of the return to play protocol are the same and initially require a medical review at about Day 3-4 and then prior to return to full contact training. Please make a booking to see us to organise this initial assessment.
The initial stages of the management and return to sport plan are:
| Incident = Day 0 |
|---|
| Recognise, remove from play, rest for 24-48 hours. No contact. Avoid training environment temporarily |
| Diagnosis of concussion by a healthcare practitioner |
| Resumption of activities of daily living (Mild temporary symptoms are acceptable) |
| Light aerobic exercise (e.g. short walks) Start graded return to school or work (Consider modifying days/hours or environment, e.g. working from home, social exposures with school recess or lunch) |
| Healthcare practitioner review recommended at day 3-4 |