While most sport-related concussions are mild, the potential always exists for a more serious, life-threatening head injury, such as an epidural hematoma (bleeding between the skull and the brain).
Because studies have shown that athletes at the collegiate and high school level may demonstrate neuropsychological deficits that are not be picked up in a sideline assessment, and are more likely to have delayed onset of symptoms,1 it is particularly critical that an athlete suspected of having a concussion be monitored by a parent or other responsible adult during the first 24 to 48 hours for signs that require immediate hospitalization.2
An athlete must go to a hospital if he:
- Has a headache that gets worse
- Is very drowsy or can't be awakened (woken up)
- Can't recognize people or places
- Is vomiting repeatedly
- Behaves unusually, seems confused or very irritable
- Experiences seizures (arms and legs jerk uncontrollably)
- Has weak or numb arms or legs
- Is unsteady on his feet or has slurred speech.
- Concussion Statement on Concussion in Sport: the 3rd International Conference on Concussion in Sport held in Zurich, November 2008.
- Sport Concussion Assessment Tool 2 (SCAT2)
