SUSPECT AND PROTECT:
A concussion should be suspected after an impact to the head or body when the player seems
different to their normal self. Such changes include the presence of any of the following:
- Visible clues of a concussion
- Symptoms of a concussion (physical symptoms, changes in emotion or thinking)
- Unusual behaviour
- Loss of consciousness or responsiveness
- Lying motionless on the ground/slowness in getting up
- Unsteadiness/balance problems or falling over/incoordination
- Dazed, blank or vacant look
- Slowness in responding to questions
- Confusion/unawareness of events
- Grabbing/clutching at the head
- Impact seizure/convulsions
- Tonic posturing – lying rigid/motionless due to a muscle spasm
Symptoms of a concussion:
- Headache
- Pressure in the head
- Balance problems
- Nausea or vomiting
- Drowsiness
- Dizziness
- Blurred vision
- Increased sensitivity to light or noise
- Fatigue or low energy
- Not feeling “right”
- Neck pain
- Changes in emotion
- More emotional behaviour
- Irritability
- Sadness
- Nervousness or anxiousness
- Changes in thinking
- Difficulty concentrating
- Difficulty remembering things
- Feeling slowed down
- Feeling “in a fog
RED FLAGS – WHEN TO SEEK URGENT/EMERGENCY MEDICAL CARE:
If ANY of the following signs are observed or complaints are reported after an impact to the head or body, the player should be immediately removed from play, evaluated by an appropriate healthcare professional and transported to an appropriate healthcare facility or emergency department:
- Neck pain or tenderness
- Seizure or convulsions
- Altered vision (blurred/double vision)
- Loss of consciousness
- Confusion or deteriorating consciousness (reduced responsiveness, drowsiness)
- Weakness or numbness/tingling in the arms or legs
- Severe or increasing headache
- Vomiting
- Memory loss
- Change in mood or behaviour
- Confusion or irritability
WHAT ARE THE EFFECTS OF A CONCUSSION?:
Concussion can affect people in four main areas:
- Physical
E.g. headaches, dizziness, vision changes - Mental processing
E.g. not thinking clearly, feeling slowed down - Mood
E.g. a short temper, sadness, emotional behaviour - Sleep
E.g. not being able to sleep or sleeping too much
There may be times when the person has no visible signs of a concussion (e.g. they may not have a blank expression or balance issues). It can be very difficult to differentiate a concussion from other, even more serious injuries, such as bleeding in the brain. Other significant injuries, such as to the neck or face, can occur along with a concussion.
Playing on with symptoms of a concussion can make them worse, significantly delay recovery and, should another head injury occur, result in a more severe injury and in rare cases, death (this is known as “second-impact syndrome”). That is why it is so important to remove anyone with a suspected concussion from any risky activity immediately.
RECOVERY FROM A CONCUSSION:
There are no defined time frames for a brain injury to heal. Each injury should be treated on a case-by-case basis, and all signs and symptoms must be respected.
Most symptoms of a concussion resolve within four weeks, but some can take longer. Everyone is unique in their recovery (including the duration), which is why a graduated return to football is important to reduce the risks of a slow recovery, further brain injury and longer-term problems. Children and adolescents may take longer to recover than adults.
If symptoms persist for more than four weeks, players need to be assessed further by an appropriate healthcare professional.
Taken from the FIFA Concussion Protocol for Grassroots Football booklet