TOOL KIT

Centers for Disease Control and Prevention, 1600 Clifton Rd, MailStop K-95, Atlanta, GA 30333, U.S.A

http://www.cdc.gov/mmwr/preview/mmwrhtml/mm5437a9.htm

Concussion Tool Kit for High School Coaches

CDC has introduced a multimedia tool kit, Heads Up: Concussion in High School Sports, to help coaches of high school teams protect their athletes from concussion. Concussions are a type of traumatic brain injury (TBI) caused by a blow or jolt to the head that can range from mild to severe and can disrupt the manner in which the brain normally functions. Approximately 300,000 sports and recreation-related TBIs occur in the United States each year (1).

The tool kit contains a Guide for Coaches on how to prevent concussions, identify symptoms, and take immediate action when an athlete has signs of a concussion. Contents also include 1) a video and DVD featuring a high school football player who was permanently disabled after sustaining a second, potentially preventable concussion during a game, 2) a wallet card and clipboard sticker for coaches that includes signs and symptoms of concussion and a place to record emergency contacts, 3) posters describing concussion symptoms that can be placed in locker rooms or heavily trafficked areas, 4) concussion fact sheets in English and Spanish for parents and athletes, and 5) a CD-ROM with downloadable kit materials and other concussion-related resources.

The Heads Up: Concussion in High School Sports tool kits will be distributed by CDC to coaches, principals, and athletic directors at high schools throughout the United States. The tool kits can be ordered or downloaded FREE of charge at http://www.cdc.gov/ncipc/tbi/coaches_tool_kit.htm. Additional information is available by contacting CDC Injury Center Media Relations, telephone 770-488-4902.

Reference:
Sosin DM, Sniezek JE, Thurman DJ. Incidence of mild and moderate brain injury in the United States, 1991. Brain Inj. 1996;10:47--54