Winter is a time young children look forward to every year. Children and teens use the icy slopes to boost their athletic skills. However, poor management of these sports activities can prove to be risky and often lead to severe concussions.
A concussion is a traumatic brain injury (TBI) that is caused by a violent blow on the head. Concussion damages brain cells and leads to chemical changes in the brain.
Following are some recommendation from the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) to help young athletes prevent concussions:
* Wear protective equipment before engaging in winter sports
* Use equipment that has been approved for the use
* Ensure that the equipment is fitting properly
* Equipment should be worn correctly
* Take appropriate precautions to avoid brain injury while playing hockey and similar sports
* Teach children the importance of following safe playing techniques and how to apply it while engaging in sports activities
* Athletes should follow rules of the play to avoid injury risks
Following are some tips from CDC that help parents and coaches to ensure safety when an athlete gets a concussion:
* After spotting any symptoms of concussion like bump or blow to the head,the athlete should be removed from the game
* Take the injured athlete to a medical practitioner to check the severity of the concussion
* Provide the exact facts on concussion to help the doctor to provide an effective solution - memory loss or seizure of the athlete after concussion or the patient's previous concussions
* The injured athlete should not be involved in the game until the doctor certifies him/her fit playing the game again
