We all know that when you play sports, you run the risk of getting injured. But when you get hurt, you want to be able to get back into the game as a soon as possible. That might take a while if you get a concussion. A concussion is a traumatic brain injury caused by a sudden direct blow or bump to the head. Considering the fact that concussions are very serious injuries, are different leagues under-stressing the importance of preventing them?
Recently in the NFL, league offices have made the push to get special concussion doctors on the sidelines. Many players have suffered from concussions including Michael Vick, Jay Cutler, and Lesean McCoy. All of them could be out for multiple games because of this one injury. Sometimes, if you get multiple concussions, your career could be over.
In the NFL, the current sideline concussion test is very extensive, and league officials are trying to prevent players from coming back into the game if they have a concussion. Getting specialists in head injuries on the sidelines would be the final and most important step in preventing athletes from trying to come back into the game.
The NFL is not the only group considering the consequences of concussions; many high school teams are also feeling the effects. And it’s not just football teams either. In every contact sport, you have a chance of getting a concussion. Whether it’s Lacrosse, Field Hockey, Basketball, or even Baseball, players can get concussions. Lacrosse player Allie Harrill described one of her concussions as follows: “The ground was spinning, and I couldn’t drive my car afterwards. I didn’t know what day it was. It was terrible.”
Concussions are bound to happen, but there are some steps that you can take to prevent them. Football players can make sure their helmets are fitted properly and avoid making helmet-to-helmet contact with an opposing player. If you do think you have a concussion, you need to make sure that you tell either a coach or a parent immediately. If you re-injure your head, it could result in serious trouble.
Concussions should not be taken lightly. While sports are meant to be fun, you need to make sure that you are safe while playing.
