Litigation

New Concussion Awareness Program

By Michael Kaplen

A new concussion awareness program has been developed by the Department of Health and Human Services (HHS) and the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) in affliation with the Brain Injury Association of Washington and the Seattle Seahawks.

The Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) is teaming up with the Seattle Seahawks and the Brain Injury Association of Washington as part of a campaign to help prevent young athletes from sustaining concussions   

The campaign, ?Washington Heads Up: Concussion in Sports,? is an expansion of CDC?s ?Heads Up: Concussion in High School? and ?Heads Up: Concussion in Youth Sports? initiatives.  It includes materials and information to help coaches identify concussions and take immediate steps to respond when one is suspected.  Campaign spokesman and former Seattle Seahawks quarterback Brock Huard is featured in the campaign?s TV public service announcement, expected to air later this year.

As part of the campaign, clipboards and posters providing a comprehensive list of signs and symptoms of a concussion, as well as important steps to take when a concussion is suspected, will be mailed to every middle and high school in Washington State along with a letter from the Seattle Seahawks.

Campaign materials also emphasize the methods coaches and parents should practice to best protect athletes and prevent long-term problems:
- Insist safety comes first.
- Ensure athletes always wear the right protective equipment for their activity.
- Make sure their youth sports league or administrator has a concussion action plan in place.

You can get more information and resources by visiting the concussion in sports web site.

Full post as published by Brain Injury News and Information on October 10, 2008 (boomark / email).