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about how I would do later in life. Now, if these concussions had such a profound effect on my health as an adult, one can only imagine the danger that they pose to young athletes whose brains and bodies are still developing. A concussion is not just a "knock in the head," as it used to be thought. It is a brain injury that can impact a per- son's physical health and cognitive abilities for years to come. Fortunately, pro sports organizations
like the NFL and NHL now have insti- tuted much more stringent guidelines for immediately removing players from games if a concussion is even suspected, and not allowing players to return to the game until a doctor has cleared them. This trickle-down effect has been seen in the college, high school and even youth organization worlds.
But, there is still much to be done when it comes to educating coaches and athletic directors on the impact of concussions on children who partici- pate in sports teams. Concussions in heavy contact activi- ties like football, hockey and boxing
receive a great deal of attention in the press, and that's great. But, many of our youngest athletes also compete in sports such as lacrosse, swimming, cheerleading, gymnastics, skiing and bicycling, to name a few—where the threat of a brain injury most definitely exists. These sports also deserve our attention and need to utilize baseline testing and adequate return-to-play protocols when concussions are even suspected in our youngest of athletes. This must be our credo as parents, coaches, team managers, and camp and athletic directors.
I made peace with myself and the decision to leave professional hockey once and for all. I can now educate our clients at Chartis through our aHead of the Game program, which promotes awareness of the dangers of concussions in youth sports. And, as a dad, I can impart my knowledge on 8-year-old, Hudson, who plays hockey and baseball, and 10-year-old, Piper, who plays softball and competes in downhill skiing. My life and my story can serve as a lesson to them, and for that, I am most grateful. ■
Concussions In Athletes
The most common symptoms after a concussive traumatic brain injury are headache, amnesia and confusion. The amnesia, which may or may not be preceded by a loss of conscious- ness, almost always involves the loss of memory of the impact that caused the concussion.
Signs and symptoms of a concussion may include:
■ Headache or a feeling of pressure in the head
■ Temporary loss of consciousness ■ Confusion or feeling as if in a fog
■ Amnesia surrounding the traumatic event
■ Dizziness or "seeing stars" ■ Ringing in the ears ■ Nausea or vomiting ■ Slurred speech ■ Fatigue
Some symptoms of concussions may be immediate or delayed in onset by hours or days after injury:
■ Concentration and memory complaints
■ Irritability and other personality changes
Nathan LaFayette is senior vice president, specialty markets of the Accident & Health division of Chartis, a property-casualty and general insurance provider serving more than 70 million clients worldwide. He is a spokesperson for Chartis' aHead of the Game cam-
paign, which seeks to inform the public about the dangers of concussions in youth sports. www.chartisinsurance.com/aheadofthegame
■ Sensitivity to light and noise ■ Sleep disturbances
■ Psychological adjustment problems and depression
■ Disorders of taste and smell
—Source: Mayo Clinic, www.mayoclinic.com
www.sportseventsmagazine.com
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