Information below from the Center for Disease Control.

	What is a concussion? A concussion, also known as a mild traumatic brain injury (MTBI), is caused by a bump, blow, or jolt to either the head or the body that causes the brain to move rapidly inside the skull. A concussion changes how the brain normally functions. Concussions can have serious and long-term health effects, and even a seemingly mild ‘ding’ or a bump on the head can be serious. Signs and symptoms of concussion include headache, nausea, fatigue, confusion or memory problems, sleep disturbances, or mood changes; symptoms are typically noticed right after the injury, but some might not be recognized until days or weeks later.
	How many sports concussions occur each year? An estimated 1.6-3.8 million sports- and recreation-related concussions occur in the United States each year. During 2001-2005, children and youth ages 5-18 years accounted for 2.4 million sports-related emergency department (ED) visits annually, of which 6% (135,000) involved a concussion.
	In what sports are concussions most often reported? In organized high school sports, concussions occur more often in competitive sports, with football accounting for more than 60% of concussions. For males, the leading cause of high school sports concussion is football; for females the leading cause of high school sports concussion is soccer. Among children and youth ages 5-18 years, the fi ve leading sports or recreational activities which account for concussions include: bicycling, football, basketball, playground activities, and soccer.
	What is known about sports concussion risk and recovery? High school athletes’ recovery times for a sports concussion are longer than college athletes’ recovery times. High school athletes who sustain a concussion are three times more likely to sustain a second concussion. Lack of proper diagnosis and management of concussion may result in serious long-term consequences, or risk of coma or death.
	What should you do if you think you or your child has had a concussion? Seek medical attention right away. – A health care professional will be able to decide when it is safe to return to sports. Do not return to play with a known or suspected concussion until evaluated and given permission by an appropriate health care professional. – Second concussions that occur before you have recovered can be very serious. Tell your coach or child’s coach about any recent concussions.

Concussion Facts:

	According to CDC estimates, 1.6-3.8 m sports and recreation related concussions occur each year in the U.S.
	10% of all contact sport athletes sustain concussions yearly.
	Brain injuries cause more deaths than any other sports injury. In football, brain injuries account for 65% to 95% of all fatalities. Football injuries associated with the brain occur at the rate of one in every 5.5 games. In any given season, 10% of all college players and 20% of all high school players sustain brain injuries.
	87% of professional boxers have sustained a brain injury.
	5% of soccer players sustain brain injuries as a result of their sport.
	The head is involved in more baseball injuries than any other body part. Almost half of the injuries involve a child’s head, face, mouth or eyes.
	An athlete who sustains concussion is 4-6 times more likely to sustain a second concussion.
	Effects of concussion are cumulative in athletes who return to play prior to complete recovery.
	Up to 86% of athletes that suffer a concussion will experience Post-Traumatic Migraine or some other type of headache pain. In fact, recent evidence indicates that presence and severity of headache symptoms may be a very significant indicator of severity of head injury and help guide return to play decisions.

THE BEST WAY TO PREVENT PROBLEMS WITH CONCUSSION IS TO MANAGE THEM EFFECTIVELY BEFORE THEY OCCUR.