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It’s here again! That time of year when Friday night news shows in NEPA have three minutes about national news, two minutes about weather, one minute about some cat in a tree or a bear in a barn and 40 minutes of football, mostly high school, but lots of local college too!

When we came to the valley 15 years ago I was amazed at the enthusiasm and loyalty our new friends and colleagues had for high school sports. Along with the cooling air, turning trees, Bloomsburg Fair and completion of summer road work on Route 80 it has become an endearing NEPA Autumn ritual for us.

There’s a lot of excitement when your kids put their team uniforms back on and hit the field. You get to cheer on all of their hard work and athleticism as they begin a new season. But as much as you’re looking forward to watching your children play, as a parent you fight that innate fear of them getting hurt.

Even if youth athletes take precautions against injuries by strength conditioning, warming up and stretching, injuries are unfortunately always a possibility on athletic fields.

Concussions are one of the most common injuries among youth athletes, often caused by a hard hit, bump, blow to the head or another injury that jars or shakes the brain inside the skull. But unlike cuts, abrasions or fractures, you can’t see a concussion. And, to make matters more confusing, sometimes it takes a few hours or days for signs of a concussion to appear.

Symptoms of a concussion may not be present or noticed at the time your youth athlete gets injured – it may be days or weeks before they appear. Plus, the symptoms are often subtle or unnoticed, which makes it all the more important for parents to know what the symptoms are so they can recognize them.

Symptoms of a concussive traumatic brain injury fit into four main categories: thinking and remembering, physical, emotional and mood, and sleep – the most common symptoms are headache, loss of memory or amnesia, and confusion.

Someone suffering with a concussion may not think clearly, feel slowed down, not be able to concentrate and not be able to remember new information.

Physical symptoms of a concussion include nausea and vomiting, fuzzy or blurry vision, dizziness, sensitivity to light or noise, balance issues, and feeling tired or having no energy.

Concussion symptoms also come in the form of emotions – someone with a concussion may be easily upset or angered, sad, nervous or anxious and, in general, just more emotional (and I thought my daughter Kate was just pregnant … maybe it’s a concussion.)

A concussion can also cause someone to sleep too much, too little or have a hard time falling asleep.

Coaches, trainers and team physicians are all trained to know the signs of a concussion, but if symptoms are delayed, parents know their kids best and may more easily notice changes or symptoms in their own child.

If you notice any of these symptoms and think your child has suffered a concussion, get them medical treatment right away. Your doctor will be able to determine if they have a concussion, how severe it is and when it’s safe for them to return to their normal activities and the playing field.

It’s important to keep your youth athlete out of practice and games until their concussion heals. It takes time to heal and, if they return to their sport too soon, they’re at a greater risk of having a second or more serious concussion. You should also inform your child’s coach about the concussion, who will likely need confirmation from your doctor when it’s safe for them to return to the sport.

This season, on the field, let’s help our kids have fun, play hard, learn important life lessons, build confidence and self-esteem but let’s make it as safe as we can and realize that a concussion is serious and has to be taken seriously!

Alfred Casale To Your Health
https://www.timesleader.com/wp-content/uploads/2015/09/web1_casale2.jpg.optimal.jpgAlfred Casale To Your Health

By Alfred Casale

To Your Health

Dr. Alfred Casale is chairman of surgery for the Geisinger Heart Institute, co-director of the Cardiovascular Service Line for the Geisinger Health System and Associate Chief Medical Officer for the Geisinger Wyoming Valley Medical Center. Readers may write to him via [email protected].