A Partnership with the NFL Helps Clinicians Identify Concussions
Each year about 170,000 young athletes go to their local emergency center for a suspected sports- or recreation-related concussion, according to a new report released by the CDC. This is an increase of over 60% during the last decade. And every day, health care professionals are challenged with identifying and appropriately managing kids and teens who may be at risk for short- or long-term problems.
To help address this important public health problem, the CDC has launched “Heads Up to Clinicians: Addressing Concussion in Sports among Kids and Teens,” a free online course for health care professionals, made possible by a grant from the National Football League (NFL) to the CDC Foundation.
Read the CDC Foundation's October 6, 2011 news release or learn more at www.cdc.gov/Concussion and www.nflhealthandsafety.com.
CDC Foundation and NOCSAE Teach Parents about Concussions
Another CDC Foundation partnership with the National Operating Committee on Standards for Athletic Equipment (NOCSAE) is helping CDC launch “Heads Up to Parents,” a new educational initiative designed specifically to provide parents with the facts about how to protect, prevent and respond to youth and high school athlete concussions.
Fast Facts
- A concussion is a brain injury and all are serious.
- Most concussions occur without loss of consciousness.
- Recognition and proper response to concussions when they first occur can help prevent further injury or even death.
