Concussion Awareness Takes the Stage in Congress
Concussions that result from a mild blow to the head can keep you out of just a few practices and games. But they can also occur after a serious blow to the head—and with potential long-term effects. The severity of concussions is often downplayed, and athletes, particularly in high school, are often returned to the field too quickly, without ensuring they are completely free of side effects.
The U.S. government, recognizing that the way concussions are handled in high school sports is a serious problem, has decided to take action. On Thursday, Sept. 30, the House of Representatives passed a bill known as the Concussion Treatment and Care Tools (ConTACT) Act to help tackle the potential dangers of concussions.
The goal of ConTACT is to set guidelines on how to prevent, identify and treat concussions in young athletes. Representative Bill Pascrell (D-NJ), who spearheaded the act, says, “While we did not have the proper guidelines to protect them in the field of play, this bill would create federal guidelines, not by the Congress but by professionals, to protect other student-athletes so they can excel not only in sports but in school.”
This bill is only the beginning of the concussion awareness revolution. We’ll keep you updated on further developments concerning concussion prevention and treatment.
For more info on concussions, check out how Dynavision uses advanced technology to test athletes for concussion symptoms.
Source: sportsonesource.com, washingtonpost.com
Photo: Getty Images
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Concussion Awareness Takes the Stage in Congress
Concussions that result from a mild blow to the head can keep you out of just a few practices and games. But they can also occur after a serious blow to the head—and with potential long-term effects. The severity of concussions is often downplayed, and athletes, particularly in high school, are often returned to the field too quickly, without ensuring they are completely free of side effects.
The U.S. government, recognizing that the way concussions are handled in high school sports is a serious problem, has decided to take action. On Thursday, Sept. 30, the House of Representatives passed a bill known as the Concussion Treatment and Care Tools (ConTACT) Act to help tackle the potential dangers of concussions.
The goal of ConTACT is to set guidelines on how to prevent, identify and treat concussions in young athletes. Representative Bill Pascrell (D-NJ), who spearheaded the act, says, “While we did not have the proper guidelines to protect them in the field of play, this bill would create federal guidelines, not by the Congress but by professionals, to protect other student-athletes so they can excel not only in sports but in school.”
This bill is only the beginning of the concussion awareness revolution. We’ll keep you updated on further developments concerning concussion prevention and treatment.
For more info on concussions, check out how Dynavision uses advanced technology to test athletes for concussion symptoms.
Source: sportsonesource.com, washingtonpost.com
Photo: Getty Images