In the last video, we learned about the most common concussion symptoms that children experience. Now let's discuss what you should do in the event that a child suffers a head injury or fall while at school. It's important that any child who has suffered a head injury or fall and display signs or symptoms of a concussion be evaluated as soon as possible by a medical professional. That being said, children will often continue with some level of symptoms even as they return to school. It's therefore very important to ensure that the child has been approved for return to school by a qualified clinician. And also has reliable follow-up. School provider should also be able to recognize some of the warning signs and symptoms after an injury that may suggest other brain injuries. Such as an intracranial bleed or skull fracture. Any school staff member should feel empowered to contact emergency personnel immediately if a child is experiencing any of the following symptoms. Headache that is constant or worsening. Weakness, numbness, especially if on one side of the body. One pupil, which is the black part in the middle of the eye, that is larger than the other. Repeat episodes of nausea or vomiting. Slurred speech, loss of consciousness, even if it's a very brief loss of consciousness. Convulsions or seizure-like behavior. Confusion, drowsiness, which is feeling sleeping with difficulty or inability to stay awake. Any inability to recognize people or places, or any other unusual behavior. When in doubt, it's best to call for help. Medical professionals are trained to evaluate children and determine need for further imaging or lab studies. Let's review. If a child suffers even a mild head injury before they have had enough time to heal completely from their last concussion, they are at risk of experiencing what is known second-impact syndrome. Second-impact syndrome is when the brain rapidly swells as a result of multiple concussions happening too close together. The effects can be devastating. Although very rare, second-impact syndrome is a condition that cause lasting brain damage and even death. Because of this phenomenon, it's critical to utilize a step-wise approach in returning children who have suffered concussion back to their normal activity level. We will talk more about this in the next video. There are many different assessment tools that have been developed specifically for evaluating children suspected of having a concussion after a head injury. Athletic trainers, nurses, and other medically trained school personnel are wonderful resources. Especially if they are trained on how to utilize a specific assessment tool. Examples of concussion assessment tools include the Child Sport Concussion Assessment Tool or Child SCAT, approved for children ages 5 to 12 years of age. And the Sport Concussion Assessment Tool or SCAT3, approved for use in children greater than 12 years of age. For those who have not been trained on the more formal tools there is a concussion recognition tool, or CRT5. Which has been developed for non-medical professionals. These tools were primarily designed for use on the sidelines during sporting events. But are easy to amend for use on the playground or in physical education classes, as well. More advanced tools reserved for clinicians include the Immediate Post-Concussion Assessment and Cognitive Testing, or ImPACT. And the Acute Concussion Evaluation, or ACE. We'll now review these tools in detail, but you can learn more about them by going to your supplementary reading materials. It is helpful to become educated on the specific tools that are used within your individual school system. Now let's review. It's likely that the Child Sport Concussion Assessment Tool, or Child SCAT, was used for Matthew after his head injury on the football field. The coaches in Matthew's case made the right decision to remove him from play. And in doing so were able to reduce his risk for developing second-impact syndrome. They also ensure that he was seen by a physician prior to returning to school. Hopefully this video has made you feel more comfortable identifying some of the warning signs. And tools that can be used to help you in the event that a child experiences a head injury in your presence. Let's move on to the next video. Where we will learn more specific management recommendations for concussion symptoms in a school setting.
