City of Syracuse Parks & Recreation Concussion Protocol

A concussion is a brain injury. Concussions, as well as other head injuries, are serious. They can be caused by a bump, a twist of the head, sudden deceleration or acceleration, a blow or jolt to the head, or by a blow to another part of the body with force transmitted to the head. You can't see a concussion, and more than 90% of all concussions occur without loss of consciousness. Signs and symptoms of concussion may show up right after the injury or can take hours or days to fully appear. All concussions are potentially serious and, if not managed properly, may result in complications including brain damage and, in rare cases, even death. Even a "ding" or a bump on the head can be serious. If your child reports any symptoms of concussion, or if you notice the symptoms or signs of concussion yourself, your child should be immediately removed from play, evaluated by a medical professional and cleared by a medical doctor.

Concussion symptoms may appear immediately after the injury or can take several days to appear. Studies have shown that it takes an average 10 to 14 days or longer for symptoms to resolve and, in rare cases or if the participant has sustained multiple concussions, the symptoms can be prolonged. Signs and symptoms of concussion may include (not all-inclusive):

• Vacant stare or seeing stars
• Lack of awareness of surroundings
• Emotions out of proportion to circumstances (inappropriate crying or anger)
• Headache or persistent headache, nausea, vomiting
• Altered vision
• Sensitivity to light or noise
• Delayed verbal and motor responses
• Disorientation, slurred or incoherent speech
• Dizziness, including light-headedness, vertigo (spinning), or loss of equilibrium (being off balance or swimming sensation)
• Decreased coordination, reaction time
• Confusion and inability to focus attention
• Memory loss
• Sudden change in academic performance or drop in grades
• Irritability, depression, anxiety, sleep disturbances, easy fatigability
• In rare cases, loss of consciousness

Participants with signs and symptoms of concussion should be removed from activity (play or program) immediately. Continuing to play with the signs and symptoms of a concussion leaves the young participant especially vulnerable to sustaining another concussion. Participants who sustain a second concussion before the symptoms of the first concussion have resolved and the brain has had a chance to heal are at risk for prolonged concussion symptoms, permanent disability and even death (called "Second Impact Syndrome" where the brain swells uncontrollably). There is also evidence that multiple concussions can lead to long-term symptoms, including early dementia.

Any participant suspected of suffering a concussion will be removed from the activity immediately and assessed. The Parent/Guardian will be contacted and responsible to pick their child up if determined. No participant may return to activity after an apparent head injury or concussion, regardless of how mild it seems or how quickly symptoms clear, without written medical clearance from an appropriate health-care professional (AHCP) on the City of Syracuse Parks & Recreation Concussion Return to Play Form(PDF, 94KB). The form must be returned to the Syracuse Parks & Recreation Department at 412 Spencer Street, Syracuse, NY 13205. An appropriate health-care professional (AHCP) is defined as a licensed physician (Medical Doctor, M.D.). 

Following physician evaluation, the return to activity process requires the participant to be completely symptom free, and receive written medical clearance, with unrestricted activity, of an AHCP. View current and up-to-date information of concussions.