1. Having a Concussed Child
Katherine Snedaker, MSW
SportsCAPP.com
PinkConcussions.com
TeamConcussion.org

2. My Boys

3. Are Parents afraid of risks?
 Starting to be aware of the risks and possibility of injury
 Aware of risk “in general,” but not as risk to their own child
 Denial that “their child” will get a concussion
 Most often concerned about purchasing best/safest equipment
 Generally want data on the risks compared to other sports

4. Isn’t Concussion Education
a no brainer?
 Only public high school/middle school coaches
 Schools/sports organization hesitate to “require” parental
education events
 When voluntary, few parents attend
 Only when mandatory, parents make time
 Parents support mandatory coaches/athlete training
 Parents concerned with long term effects of TBI have already
experienced concussion

5. Once injured…
Barriers to successful
concussion treatment
 VERY FEW Parents understand the current and correct
management of concussions
 Access to local concussion-trained MDs is haphazard
 ER doctors are not consistent
 Use of term Mild in “mTBI” by doctors is huge problem

6. Mild TBI = mTBI Acute TBI

7. How does having
a concussed child
change your life?
Section Two

8. When a child is
concussed…
 Sudden medical crises
 Family routine changes
 Miss days of school
 Canceled vacations/social events
 Parents need to “babysit” child
 Parents’ ability to earn wages
 Less attention on siblings

9. Why are concussions different?
 Invisible Injury
 Medical advice/terms vary between doctors, ER & TBI websites
 Management of concussion is inconsistent
 Parents are lost in how best to care for their child
 Perception of “faking injury” is real issue
 Parent needs to manage child’s absence and return to school
A concussion is the opposite of Strep Throat

10. 0 20 40 60
Concussions
Breast cancer
Sandy gets house
Divorce
Casseroles delivered to my house
Casseroles

13. How can children
and parents’
needs be
addressed?
Section Three

14. The playing field
Bad News
 Lacking Medical Training
 Lacking Education
 Lacking Research
 Lacking ATs for schools and
youth sports
Good News
 Training exists online + free
 Educational materials exist
 Smart Phone Apps exist
 Books, pamphlets
 Movies, Videos

16. Update Connecticut
Concussion Law of 2009
 All youth sports under law, not just school teams
 Coaches required to train in all youth sports
 Player and parent education
 Schools need RTL guidelines
 Central registry for schools
 Limited on “Full Contact” practice like NFL?
 Sports org and schools required to provide yearly injury DATA

17. Nurture “Flow of Information”
CDC concussion education for parents/players
Concussion management training for doctors
Concussion management training for schools
Post Concussive Support mental health for
players & their families

19. Football
Soccer
Cheer
Hockey
Field Hockey
Lax
Fall Sports Concussion Safety Night
For Middle School Athletes and their Parents
Thursday, Sept 13
7:30 to 8:30
Saugatuck Elementary School
170 Riverside Avenue, Westport
Youth Athletes will tell their stories plus
Katherine Snedaker, MSW Concussion Educator
Carmen Roda, Westport PAL Director of Youth Sports
The facts kids need to know about concussions
The facts parents need to know about concussions
The differences between girls’ vs. boys’ concussions
The proper response to a possible concussion
Smart phone apps to help parents
Safety discussion about helmets, soccer headbands and mouth guards
Current concussion research
Presented by
Thank you to our sponsors

20. Who needs Concussion Education?
All middle school age children and parents
 A pattern of first concussions occurring in middle school before
any trained staff or ATs
 Most kids tell us they had no education before their first
concussion
 There are rarely athletic trainers available to train or care for
youth sports outside of school
 Many states do not require teams outside of school to have
trained coaches

22. Team Concussion
presents
“MIND YOUR MELON”
Kids & Sports Concussions
A program where teen speakers bring their own concussion
experience directly to middle and high schools students.
• Our pro-sports, upbeat program
• Entertaining messengers with interesting stories
• Practical, up-to-date concussion facts for kids and parents.