Concussion Protocol

👉 Immediately stop activity and check for danger signs

Danger Signs

□ Worsening, persistent headache
□ Repeated nausea or vomiting
□ Weakness, numbness, or poor coordination
□ Slurred speech
□ Seizures (e.g., shaking or twitching)
□ Difficulty recognizing people or places
□ Loss of consciousness (even brief)
□ Uneven pupils or double vision
□ Cannot be awakened or extreme drowsiness

✅ If Danger Signs Are Present (URGENT)

Immediate Actions

• Call 911
  OR
• Call parent/guardian to take youth to the hospital immediately (if safe)

Parent/Guardian Communication

• Notify immediately (within minutes)

Documentation

• Complete incident documentation
• Send documentation with youth to the hospital
• Provide a verbal briefing to parent/guardian or emergency responders

Reporting

• Submit report to EH&S (OARS)

Follow-Up

• Youth may not return without medical clearance
• Contact parent/guardian within 24 hours to confirm:
  • Diagnosis (if known)
  • Expected timeline for return
  • Activity restrictions or accommodations

👉 If NO danger signs are present:

• Monitor for symptoms for at least 30 minutes after injury
• Keep youth under supervision
• Restrict all physical and high-stimulation activity
• Provide first aid if needed

Monitoring Schedule

Check and document at:

• Immediately after injury (0 minutes)
• 15 minutes
• 30 minutes

👉 Documentation Requirement

• Record observations at each interval
• Document both the presence and absence of symptoms
• Include the time of each check

Symptom Checklist

Observed / Behavior

□ Dazed or stunned
□ Confusion
□ Repeating questions
□ Slow responses
□ Memory gaps
□ Personality or behavior changes

Physical

□ Headache or pressure
□ Nausea or vomiting
□ Dizziness or balance issues
□ Fatigue or feeling tired
□ Vision problems (e.g., blurry)
□ Sensitivity to light or noise
□ Numbness or tingling
□ Not “feeling right”

Cognitive

□ Trouble thinking, concentrating, or remembering
□ Slowed thinking
□ Feeling foggy, hazy, groggy, or sluggish

Emotional

□ Irritable
□ Sad
□ Nervous
□ More emotional than usual

Re-check Danger Signs

□ Worsening headache
□ Repeated vomiting
□ Weakness, numbness, or poor coordination
□ Slurred speech
□ Seizures
□ Difficulty recognizing people or places
□ Loss of consciousness (even brief)
□ Uneven pupils or double vision
□ Cannot be awakened or extreme drowsiness

✅ If Symptoms Are Present (NO Danger Signs)

Immediate Actions

• Notify parent/guardian at first sign of symptoms (do not wait until pickup)
• Recommend medical evaluation

Care & Supervision

• Keep youth under supervision until pickup
• Restrict all physical and high-stimulation activity

Documentation

• Complete incident documentation
• Record all symptom observations and monitoring times

Parent/Guardian Communication

• Provide incident documentation at pickup
• Verbally explain:
  • What happened
  • Symptoms observed
  • When symptoms appeared
• Provide concussion resources for guidance on symptom monitoring and when to seek medical care
  • English Concussion Resource
  • Multilingual Concussion Resource

Reporting

• Submit report to EH&S (OARS)

Follow-Up

• Youth may not return to full activity without medical clearance
• Before return, confirm with parent/guardian:
  • Diagnosis (if known)
  • Activity restrictions or accommodations

✅ If NO Symptoms Are Observed

Immediate Actions

• Remove from physical activity for at least 30 minutes
• Continue observation during this period

Documentation

• Complete incident documentation
• Record monitoring checks and confirm no symptoms were observed

Parent/Guardian Communication

• Notify the same day (at pickup or earlier if needed)
• Provide incident documentation at pickup
• Provide concussion resources for guidance on symptom monitoring and when to seek medical care
  • English Concussion Resource
  • Multilingual Concussion Resource

Reporting:

• Submit report to EH&S (OARS)

Follow-Up

• If symptoms develop later, treat as Symptoms Present scenario
• Check in with parent/guardian if youth returns and appears unwell