Parents and student-athletes across Connecticut will be required to have concussion identification and management tools this year in an effort to reduce the risks of concussions among players.
They’ll receive a copy of the "Concussion Plan and Guidelines for Connecticut Schools" as the result of a law introduced by State Sen. Dante Bartolomeo in 2014.
"This comprehensive information packet includes signs of and symptoms, risks posed by concussions, how to obtain medical treatment, the danger of ignoring these signs and continuing to play," said Bartolomeo.
The concussion plan also has information on procedures to follow so athletes can get back on the field safely after being injured.
"This just helps us to address those safety issues so students can come to school more often and not have to go through these types of injuries," said Platt High School Principal Robert Montemurro.
Dr. William Pesce with the Hospital for Special Care in New Britain says the facility hopes to provide much-needed continuing education in Connecticut.
"We’re going to have workshops and educational sessions that are run predominantly by our neuropsychologists that will discuss the impact of concussion. What is a concussion and what you do to follow up with that student athlete," said Pesce.
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The new concussion plan aims to catch the signs of concussions earlier and prevent them.
"The purpose of this is to prevent concussions and to help our coaches our student athletes and our guardians understand the risks, identify the symptoms and property manage the concussion," said Bartolomeo.
All coaches will also be required to take concussion education course to receive their coaching permit.
