Waxahachie Personal Injury Attorney Applauds Increased Awareness of Youth Sports Concussions

Waxahachie, TX (Law Firm Newswire) October 31, 2012 – An estimated 2.6 million U.S. children were treated for sports-related injuries between 2002 and 2009, according to the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention.

More than 170,000 of those injured children were diagnosed with traumatic brain injuries from concussions. A sports concussion is an injury to the brain caused by a blow, bump or jolt to the head, one that usually occurs during a fall or colliding with another player.

“Now that students are back in school is an ideal time to increase awareness of overall safety in student sports,” stated Waxahachie personal injury attorney John Hale. “And that safety awareness would benefit from an emphasis on reducing personal injury and concussions in student athletics.”

While sports are touted in schools, from elementary school through high school, as an excellent tool to help build confidence and fitness, teach teamwork and resiliency, and help with social rapport and enhance social standing, there may be a lack of emphasis on concussion safety. And that can have long-lasting consequences. A blow to the head that causes a concussion is often overlooked; once an athlete has a concussion, they may be as much as four to six times more likely to have a second concussion. And that second concussion can be enough trauma to cause permanent brain injury.

While a concussion can happen in any sport, contact sports allow the highest opportunity, with player-to-player contact the top offender: The highest frequency of sports injury, including concussions, are found in basketball, boys lacrosse, girls lacrosse, field hockey, football, ice hockey, and soccer.

Early symptoms of a concussion may include headache, confusion, dizziness, ringing in the ears, vision changes, nausea, sensitivity to light and/or vomiting. Later, symptoms may include chronic migraines, chronic fatigue, depression, irritability, poor concentration, sleep disturbances and/or memory loss.

“If you suspect your child or the child in your care has a concussion, seek immediate medical help. Let a qualified medical professional assess the situation. If your child has been positively diagnosed as concussed, restrict your child from sports and other athletics until a health care professional gives them the ‘go ahead’ to return to the field. Report your child’s concussion to his or her coach,” suggested Hale.

John Hale is a Waxahachie personal injury lawyer and Ellis County personal injury lawyer helping injury victims near Dallas, Texas. Learn more at The Hale Law Firm

The Hale Law Firm
100 Executive Court, Suite 3
Waxahachie, TX 75165
Call: 888.425.3911

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