Head Injuries
& Your Child
In the past few years, the long term
effects of concussions have become
a topic of discussion as many professional
athletes are becoming more
vocal about the impact that concussions
have on their lives and overall
well-being. In addition to adults,
many adolescents, especially those
involved in high-impact sports, are
reporting concussions.
Many young people participate in
sports, and activity should be encouraged.
Although typically a positive
for their lives, participation in sports
carries inherent risks such as injury.
These injuries are more likely to occur
in sports such as football, wrestling
and hockey, but getting hurt is a
possibility in almost any sport. Complete
elimination of injury in sports is
not likely or probable but steps can be
taken to mitigate those risks. Concussions
can have long term effects on
children, so taking steps to protect
PEDIATRICS
against brain injuries goes a long way
in long term health.
PREVENTIVE STRATEGIES
Educational programs. Programs
focused on concussion awareness
have been developed to target different
audiences ranging from athletes
to parents to coaches. Different
organizations such as the Centers for
Disease Control and Prevention have
used mass media and social media to
raise awareness around concussions
and their long-term impact. The goal
of such programs is behavior change
and recognition of head injuries.
Although these efforts are effective
in raising the level of awareness for a
short period of time, there is not sufficient
evidence to indicate that these
programs are effective in behavior
change or reducing the amount of
concussions that occur in youths.
Professional athletes have
become more vocal about the
impact of concussions has
on their lives. Take steps to
protect your sports-loving kids.
8 COMMUNITY HEALTHCARE DIGEST • JUL–SEP 2019 | WWW.CHDIGEST.COM
/WWW.CHDIGEST.COM