Manual of Concussion Protocol

Rockey Lafayette
Manual Project
TECM 2700
4/25/2014

Table of Contents iii
Table of Contents

Introduction ..................................................................................................................................... 5
Chapter 1: Symptoms ...................................................................................................................... 9
The Numbers ............................................................................................................................... 9
Know The Signs .......................................................................................................................... 9
Physical .................................................................................................................................. 9-11
Mental
Chapter 2: Long-Term Effects ...................................................................................................... 13
The Effects ................................................................................................................................ 14
Index ............................................................................................................................................. 15
Introduction v
Introduction


Concussions and various other head injuries have become a growing problem for football
associations across America. These injuries have led to head trauma, causing athletes numerous
problems, not only with their football careers but also with their personal lives. There have been
reports of different football players being distant from their families due to these impactful hits
that they take week in and week
out. These players are not only
sacrificing for their teams, but
also sacrifice their bodies and
the well-being of themselves
for their families as well.
Players should be able to play
the game that they love without
fearing for their mental health.
Of course we all know what a
rough sport football is, and Im
sure you think to yourself that
these men know what they
signed up for when they began
to play. That is very true.
However, as outsiders looking
in, people fail to realize the
sacrifices that these guys make.
All we get out of the whole deal
is the entertainment, while on
the other side of the screen, this
is the livelihood of these guys.
They have families just like we
do. Therefore, I feel that more
should be invested towards
studying these occurrences.
These guys deserve that much
at least. I think the league
should provide more
information discussing the correct way to handle and prevent concussions. There are hundreds
of these injuries throughout America year in and year out. If a person is educated well enough
on the proper way to handle these injuries, then I believe the rate of severe after effects would
lessen.

Chapter 1: Symptoms


Chapter 1 9
Chapter 1: Symptoms

The Numbers
What I am about to tell you may be disturbing. A recent study has shown that our high school
athletes are at a greater risk of experiencing
concussions than our collegiate athletes. High school
athletes suffer concussions at an alarming rate of 11.2
concussions per 10,000 practices and games, while
college kids are at 6.3. My concern for the health of
these players is from a personal stand point. Being a
former football player myself, I have seen these
experiences impact people in my day to day life. I
know the sacrifices that are made just to be able to play
the game of football. Players spend time a great deal
of time away from their families and loved ones just to
play the game they love. You might say, well you
knew what you were getting into when you began to
play. While that is true, some people fail to realize
that this is how some players put food on the table and provide for their families. The families of
football players deserve to have the man of their households alive and well just as other citizens
do.

Know The Signs
One way that we can take action on our part is to notice when someone may be experiencing a
concussion. There are several symptoms that a person may have when experiencing a
concussion:
Physical
Headaches
-one will almost always experience headaches more than normal; the headaches
will also be more severe than the average headache.

Chapter 1 10
Light sensitivity
-exposure to bright lights or extreme sunlight will be very sensitive to the person.



Blurred vision
-vision problems almost always occur.




Chapter 1 11
Balance problems
o -if youve ever watched a game and saw a player get up off of the ground
woozy, that is just a better way for saying that the player is having a hard time
keeping his balance


Dizziness
-the symptom of dizziness intertwines with the inability to maintain balance as
discussed in the previous bullet.











Chapter 1 12

While one may face various physical symptoms when diagnosed with a concussion, they may
also experience a few mental symptoms as well. Mental symptoms are the scariest of all side
effects when it comes to concussions. They raise the most questions because this interferes with
a persons personal life. The ability for them to interact with their families can be limited
physically, but it can also be limited from a mental standpoint.

There a few mental symptoms that could raise a few eyebrows:
Mental
Indecisive thinking
-student athletes, for example, may experience a drop in academic performance

Inability to retain new information
-this can also affect a student athletes performance in the classroom, as well as
remembering plays on the football field.











Chapter 2 13
Chapter 2: Long-Term Effects














Chapter 2 14

Chapter 2: Long-Term Effects

The effects of head injuries such as concussions can have a life-long impact, and I dont mean
this in a positive way.
The Effects
Depression
Alzheimers
Memory loss
Slurred speech
Nausea
Vomiting
Seeing stars
Nuerological damage
Mental illness
Pituitary gland dysfunction
Low energy levels
Moodiness
Disturbed sleep
Confusion
Headaches
Symptoms similar to Parkinsons disease
Attention deficits
Suicidal thoughts













Works Cited 15
Index
Know the Sings, 9
Long-Term Effects, 13
Mental, 12
Physical, 9
Symptoms, 9
The Effects, 14
The Numbers, 9
















Works Cited 17


Image Sources
1. www.ajc.com
2. www.cbssports.com
3. www.ironneck.net
4. www.youtube.com
5. www.improveeyesighthq.com