Concussions: education for coaches and safe return to play for athletes

Head injuries can occur due to a variety of reasons, including falls, auto accidents, and contact sports. In 2010 the Center for Disease Control reported that 2.5 million traumatic brain injuries occurred in the United States. Any injury the body sustains requires that a person take the appropriate steps to have the most successful outcome. Appropriate action with an injury is not just limited to recovery, but being aware of the potential injury and acting accordingly. This is even more important when the injury is sustained by the brain. A situation in which brain injuries are becoming a larger issue is in contact sports. In order for athletes to have the best outcome from head injuries it is important for coaches to be educated on concussions. Coaches need to be able to identify when a concussion could have occurred, then act accordingly. This thesis will show what types of online training programs are available for coaches and what is necessary for coaches to know when dealing with these injuries. It will also show the best course of action to take for an athlete to return to play and return to school and learning safely