Indiana lawmakers have proposed new legislation that would require student athletes to be removed from a game if a head injury or concussion is suspected, according to a Journal Gazette report.
The bill would also prohibit student athletes from returning to practice or games without written clearance from a healthcare provider trained in evaluating head injuries, according to the report. Parents would also be required to receive and review information on concussions annually before their children could participate in sporting activities.
The Indiana High School Athletic Association reviewed existing rules, which previously stated players who were "unconscious or apparently unconscious" be removed from play. The rules now have included players exhibiting behaviors consistent with concussions symptoms to also be removed from play. However, the legislature is concerned that children are still returning-to-play before the injury has healed, and the bill would help prevent athletes from a second concussion before the first has healed.
Read the Journal Gazette report on concussion legislation.
Read other coverage on concussions:
- NFL, NATA Join to Promote Concussion Awareness Legislation
- NHL Concussion Prevention Rule 48 Prohibits Blindside Hits to the Head
- Most Sports-Related Concussions Occur in Head-to-Head Collisions
The bill would also prohibit student athletes from returning to practice or games without written clearance from a healthcare provider trained in evaluating head injuries, according to the report. Parents would also be required to receive and review information on concussions annually before their children could participate in sporting activities.
The Indiana High School Athletic Association reviewed existing rules, which previously stated players who were "unconscious or apparently unconscious" be removed from play. The rules now have included players exhibiting behaviors consistent with concussions symptoms to also be removed from play. However, the legislature is concerned that children are still returning-to-play before the injury has healed, and the bill would help prevent athletes from a second concussion before the first has healed.
Read the Journal Gazette report on concussion legislation.
Read other coverage on concussions:
- NFL, NATA Join to Promote Concussion Awareness Legislation
- NHL Concussion Prevention Rule 48 Prohibits Blindside Hits to the Head
- Most Sports-Related Concussions Occur in Head-to-Head Collisions