Litigation

Rhode Island and Connecticut consider concussion safety legislation to protect school age children

By Michael Kaplen

Rhode Island jand Connecticut joins the growing list of states considering legislation to protect school aged children from dangerous return to play decisions which expose them to further injury following a concussion.

The proposed Rhode Island legislation would require any student athlete who gets hit in the head to receive written clearance from a licensed health-care professional who has training in treating concussions.

The bill would require any youth athlete ?suspected of sustaining a concussion or head injury? to sit out a game or practice and stay out of play until he or she has received medical clearance from a ?licensed health-care provider trained in the evaluation and management of concussions and head injures.?

The legislation also calls on the school districts to work with the R.I. Interscholastic League to educate youth, coaches and parents about the implications of head injuries and to develop and implement guidelines for dealing with suspected concussions on the field.

You can read about the Rhode Island legislation by clicking here.

Under the Connecticut proposal, after a player is observed taking a very hard hit to the head, a coach would be prohibited from putting the player back in, whether at a practice or the middle of the game, until that player is medically cleared to play.

Read more about the Connecticut proposal by clicking here .

Full post as published by Brain Injury News and Information on January 30, 2010 (boomark / email).