Concussion is one of the most common sports injuries among youths. Concussions may occur in any sport, not just football, known for physical contact. Concussion is synonymous with brain injury and can range anywhere from mild to severe.
Secondary impact syndrome, a second concussion occurring before symptoms of a prior concussion have resolved, can result in catastrophic brain damage or even death. Young people are especially vulnerable to concussion and secondary impact syndrome. Secondary impact syndrome is avoidable with the implementation of a no-tolerance policy for youth athletes playing with suspected concussion.
On July 1, 2012, the Concussion Awareness Act became law. All public, private, and parochial schools, as well as all organized youth sports sponsored by villages, cities, businesses, or non-profit organizations for children ages 19 and under, are required to offer training regarding concussions to coaches. Under the law, an athlete showing signs or symptoms of a concussion, thereby being “reasonably suspected” of having had a concussion, must be removed from participation and may not return until evaluated by a licensed health care professional. See "When can the athlete return to play?" below. The law passed by the Nebraska State Legislature has three requirements:
Education: All coaches, youth athletes, and their parent or guardian must be provided with education about the risks and symptoms of concussion and how to seek proper medical attention.
Removal from Play: Under any reasonable suspicion of concussion, coaches will remove youth athletes from play.
Return to Play: Youth athletes will not be allowed to return to play including games, scrimmages, and practices of any kind, until written approval from an appropriate licensed healthcare professional AND the youth's parent or guardian is obtained. Licensed healthcare professional may be a physician, physician's assistant, nurse practitioner nurse, athletic trainer, neuropsychologist, or any licensed healthcare worker in Nebraska who is specifically trained in pediatric traumatic brain injury.
The Nebraska Concussion Awareness Act was amended in 2014 to include help for the student returning to school after a concussion. Effective July 2014, this new component established the requirement for a Return to Learn protocol for the student who has sustained a concussion.
The Nebraska Concussion Awareness Act Return to Learn protocol recognizes that a student who has sustained a concussion and returned to school may need special attention and assistance until the student is fully recovered.