Skip to main content

Concussion Protocol Parent FAQ

March 19, 2021

Parent/Guardian Questions and Answers

1. How will I know if my child has been injured and has a suspected concussion?

  • a. The WSD Concussion Protocol requires that the attending teacher/coach contact you immediately to inform you when your child has been injured and to advise you to take your child to see a medical professional.

2. How do I get a copy of the Medical Assessment Letter if my child is injured during an after school or weekend event?

  • a. The attending teacher/coach will have copies of the letter with them to give to you or the student.

3. Why can’t my child return to school activities without the medical assessment letter?

  • a. For your child’s own safety after an injury where a concussion is suspected, the WSD Concussion Protocol requires that a Medical Assessment Letter completed by a medical doctor, nurse practitioner, or physician assistant, before they can return to full academic activities and school sports. Individuals react differently to concussion and there may be underlying conditions or previous history. A medical professional is required to rule out more serious medical concerns such as a trauma to the brain or spine.

4. When my child returns to school, to whom do they present the Medical Assessment Letter/Medical Clearance Letter, and who has access to their medical information?  

  • a. Students should report to the school office with their medical assessment letter and later with their medical clearance letter. Medical information related to a concussion is shared with only your child’s teachers and coaches, so that they can be vigilant about symptoms or worsening symptoms during their recovery and assist in their return-to-school and return-to-sport strategy.

5. Who will cover the medical professional’s fee for signing the Medical Assessment and Medical Clearance letters?

  • a. According to the Canadian Guideline on Concussion in Sport, all Medical Assessment and Medical Clearance Letters should be provided to students without any charge.


Q&As from Parachute Canada Org.

1.What is a concussion?
A concussion is a common form of head and brain injury, and can be caused by a direct or indirect hit to the head or body (for example, a car crash, fall or sport injury). This causes a change in brain function, which results in a variety of symptoms. With a concussion there is no visible injury to the structure of the brain, meaning that tests like MRI or CT scans usually appear normal.

2. What actually happens?
When a person suffers a concussion, the brain suddenly shifts or shakes inside the skull. A hard hit to the body can result in an acceleration-deceleration injury to the brain. It is not yet known exactly what happens to brain cells in a concussion, but the mechanism appears to involve a change in chemical function.

3. How do concussions occur?
Most concussions occur as a result of a collision with another object while the object or person is moving at a high rate of speed. Forces such as these (and others) can result in deceleration and rotational concussive injuries.

4. Who to tell?
It is important to seek medical advice immediately after a high impact hit to the head or body. Often, concussions can go untreated (and even unnoticed by others) because symptoms are often invisible to casual observers. Many times, the symptoms of a concussion may not be identified until the person recovers to the point where increased exertion causes symptoms to worsen.

Although symptoms may not be immediately apparent, it is important to be aware of possible physical, cognitive and emotional changes. Symptoms may actually worsen throughout the day of the injury or even the next day. Without proper management, a concussion can result in permanent problems and seriously affect one’s quality of life.

Because a concussion affects the function of the brain, and can result in symptoms such as memory loss or amnesia, it is important that others be aware of the signs and symptoms of concussions in order to help identify the injury in others. Individuals should be removed immediately from the current activity (including sports, work and school), should not drive and seek medical attention immediately.

5. Symptoms of a concussion
Following a concussion, individuals may experience many different signs and symptoms. A symptom is something the athlete will feel, whereas a sign is something friends, family or a coach may notice. It is important to remember that some symptoms may appear right away and some may appear later. No two concussions are the same. The signs and symptoms may be a little different for everyone. Some may be subtle and may go unnoticed by you as the injured person, co-workers, friends and family.

6. Screening and diagnosis
Concussions can resolve fully with proper rest and management in a week or two, but concussions which are not diagnosed can lead to long term and more serious health implications. The first and most important step is to consult a medical doctor, nurse practitioner or physician assistant, preferably one familiar in concussion management.

There are many potential factors which may help to inform individual diagnosis, concussion management and recovery, although many of these are still being researched to find the exact link. For example, severity is likely impacted by a number of factors such as the person’s history of previous head injuries, including number of past concussions, length of recovery time, timing between past concussions, age and style of play. Factors such as these can lead to a different, slower recovery, which is why it is important that concussion history is monitored.

Return to activity while still concussed and experiencing symptoms can lead to an increased risk for another concussion, more intense symptoms, and a prolonged recovery.
Diagnosing a concussion may take several steps. A doctor may ask questions about concussion and work/sport history, other recent injuries, and will conduct a neurological exam. This can include checking your memory and concentration, vision, coordination and balance. Further tests including a CT scan or MRI, can be important to assess for other skull or brain injury but they do not inform concussion diagnosis. In the majority of concussions, there will not be any obvious damage found on these tests. Sometimes the role of neuropsychological testing is important in identifying subtle cognitive (e.g., memory, concentration) problems caused by the concussion and may at times help to plan return to pre-injury activity. In addition, balance testing may be required. Usually these are arranged by the concussion expert.

7. When should I return to activity?
Working under the supervision of a doctor, concussed Individuals wishing to resume daily activities must follow the graduated stages of recovery as detailed within the “Return to School” (in case of students) and “Return to Sport” strategies. Concussed individuals must only return to normal daily activity after they have been cleared by their medical doctor, nurse practitioner or physician assistant. 

A concussed person should be removed from activity immediately and assessed by one of these medical professionals. Given that symptoms may worsen after the event, individuals should not return to activity until cleared to do so. When concussed, the ability to assess situations and events may be impaired. Post-concussive symptoms may intensify with an increase in activity, so it is important that return to activity is gradual and monitored/supervised by a medical professional as described above.

8. Prevention
It is important to take a preventive approach when dealing with concussions. This is especially true after a recent concussion. Prevention of concussions and head injuries is most successful when teammates and colleagues are properly educated and the safety rules of the working and sporting environment are enforced. Respect for the mutual safety of others must be highlighted. Because concussions are an invisible injury, it is important to share concussion information with others – to inform them of the injury and provide information education on concussions.

Protective equipment can reduce the risk and severity of head injury. It is important to have a good quality, properly fitted hard hat/helmet for work environments and collision sports. Safety procedures should be mandated on work sites and protective equipment should be certified and well maintained.

Resources

icpdf.pngWSD Concussion Protocol Parent FAQ.pdf


Back to top