Concussion Vital Signs (CVS) Testing

Concussion Management Program:
High School North
High School South
Community Middle School
Grover Middle School

 

Concussions are brain injuries that are increasing in numbers each year. Please read this important information regarding concussions from the Centers for Disease Control & Prevention: 

Each year, U.S. emergency departments (EDs) treat an estimated 173,285 sports- and recreation-related TBIs, including concussions, among children and adolescents, from birth to 19 years. 

During the last decade, ED visits for sports- and recreation-related TBIs, including concussions, among children and adolescents increased by 60 percent. 

Overall, the activities associated with the greatest number of TBI-related ED visits included bicycling, football, playground activities, basketball, and soccer. 

National surveillance in nine high school sports: TBI represents almost 9 percent of all injuries reported in the nine sports. Numbers and rates are highest in football (55,007; 0.47 per 1000 athlete exposures) and girl’s soccer (29,167; 0.36 per 1000 athlete exposures). A national survey of all sports- and recreation-related injuries among all ages demonstrates that 31 percent occurred in a sports facility and 20% in a school facility. 

With the incidence of concussions increasing each year, the following steps are in place to protect our student-athletes:

Concussion Vital Signs (CVS)

Students must complete a baseline Concussion Vital Signs test prior to the first day of practice.  Students will not be allowed to participate in practices/games until they have successfully completed a baseline test. Please click here for CVS test instructions for more information on completing your baseline test. 

  • If a student suffers an injury to the head (either contact or non-contact), they will be assessed either by a coach, or athletic  trainer.  If a student exhibits a sign or symptom of a concussion, they will be withheld from participation from the remainder of the day.
     
  • Per NJ state law, only a licensed physician (MD or DO) trained in the evaluation & management of concussions may authorize a student-athlete to return-to-play. 

  • If a student has been diagnosed with a concussion, the district’s return-to-play protocol will be initiated:
    • Daily documentation of symptoms (or lack thereof) with the athletic trainer
    • Once the athlete is symptom-free (non-medicated) for 24-48 hours the following steps will commence: Step 1: Light aerobic activity. Step 2: Exertional activity (running/sprinting, weight training). Step 3: Non-contact activities in practice. Step 4: Participation in a full practice (pending supervising physician’s approval).
    • Each Step will be 24 hours in duration, if the athlete remains symptom-free. Student-athletes will document their symptoms (or lack thereof) before and after the completion of each step. If the athlete reports a symptom, they will be withheld from advancing to the next step until they are able to complete the step without symptoms.
    • A post-injury ImPACT test also will be administered during the recovery process.  The athlete must return to their baseline results.  The results will be shared with the supervising physician, to be used as a tool to authorize clearance for the student-athlete to return to full participation.
  • The student-athlete may not begin the CDC's Six-Step Return to Play Progression until the student-athlete receives a medical examination, provides the required written medical clearance, and the medical clearance is approved by the school physician.

 

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