How to Recognize the Signs of a Concussion for Parents

Think you know concussions? Here’s a little quiz for you. Are the following statements true or false?

• Concussions only happen to football players.
• A mild knock on the head can’t cause a concussion. They’re only caused by the biggest hits.
• As long as a player is wearing a helmet, that player cannot sustain a concussion. 
• A hit to the body will never result in a head injury. It has to be a blow to the head.
• If a player says he/she has not sustained a concussion, you should take his/her word for it. 

Did you answer “true” for any of these questions? If so, you’ll definitely want to watch our video. All of the above statements are false!

A concussion is a brain injury, plain and simple. It’s not just “getting your bell rung.” If we don’t know how to properly recognize concussion symptoms and don’t know enough about concussion treatment, our young athletes could be at risk for serious problems down the road. 

Luckily, Dr. Shelina Babul, associate director and sports injury specialist at BC Children’s Hospital, and Andrea Benton of RaisingBoys.tv are here to help. In this video, Andrea and Dr. Babul cover a wide range of topics including the signs of a concussion, concussion treatment and the true definition of a concussion.

A lot of people might tell you that a concussion is a hard hit to the head. However, that’s not the whole story. Many players sustain concussions when they take a hit anywhere on the body, not just on the head. In the words of Dr. Babul, “It’s not just an impact to the head. It’s an impact to another part of the body resulting in the movement of the brain inside the skull.” 

This is why it’s so important to properly recognize the signs of a concussion. If a fully-padded football player takes a hard hit to the stomach and then complains of dizziness on the sideline, you should take that player out, pronto. Why? Because even though the initial hit wasn’t anywhere near the player’s head, dizziness is a classic sign of a head injury. Make sure to watch the video to find out the others!

Remember: This video is meant to help inform viewers on the facts about concussions, but it is not meant to be an official diagnosis. If you believe that you, a teammate or a player have sustained a concussion, don’t guess. Go to the hospital immediately and get expert help. 

Watch the video for even more information!