Athlete Safety and Health

Concussion Information

If your student has experienced any head injury, please inform your school. BVSD has a concussion management plan in place to ensure the well-being of your student. To obtain information on head injuries and concussions, kindly visit the BVSD Concussion Website.

General Information

What is a concussion?

A concussion is a mild brain injury that temporarily affects the way the brain works and can lead to symptoms such as headache, dizziness, and confusion.

A concussion happens when the brain is injured. This can happen when the head is hit — for example, from a fall. But concussions also can happen without a blow to the head — for example, in a car accident when the head snaps forcefully forward and back. The strong movement causes chemical and blood flow changes in the brain. These changes lead to concussion symptoms.

You can't see a concussion on an x-ray or scan. Signs and symptoms of concussion can show up right after the injury or may not appear or be noticed until days or weeks after the injury. If your student reports any symptoms of concussion, or if you notice the symptoms yourself, seek medical attention and let your school's health team know.

Resources

BVSD Concussion Protocol - how concussions are managed in BVSD

BVSD Return to School / Sport Form - Required for Return to Play after a head injury

Formulario de regreso a la escuela/juego de BVSD - Requerido para volver a jugar después de una lesión en la cabeza

Concussion Information for Parents - CDC HEADS UP

Información de conmoción cerebral para los padres- CDC HEADS UP

CDE Traumatic Brain Injury (TBI) - Dept of Ed Resources for Parents and Educators

CDC Heads Up - Brain Injury Information

What are signs and symptoms of a concussion?

Here are some of the symptoms that are typically associated with a concussion.

Symptoms you might see	Symptoms they might report
confusion vomiting balance/coordination off slow responses behavior or personality changes can't remember the event	headache or "pressure" in the head nausea or vomiting balance, coordination or vision problems dizziness sensitivity to light or noise feeling sluggish, hazy, foggy concentration or memory problems confusion just feeling "not right"

What should you do if you think your child has a concussion?

Seek medical attention right away. A health care professional will be able to decide how serious the concussion is and when it is safe for your student to return to full activity.
If your student is an athlete, keep them out of play. Concussions take time to heal. Don't let your student return to play until a health care professional says it's OK. Students who return to play too soon - while the brain is still healing - risk a greater chance of having a second concussion. Second or later concussions can be very serious. They can cause permanent brain damage, affecting your student for a lifetime.
Report any prior concussion. Doctors should know if your student had a recent concussion.
If your student is not an athlete, they still need time to recover and heal. Keep physical and mental activity low key and let your school know - they will facilitate a return to learning strategy to support your student.
Important - Notify the school if your student has had a concussion/head injury. Find your school's health team.

TIPS FOR STAYING HYDRATED AND FLUID GUIDELINES FOR ATHLETES

During physical activity, it's common for many athletes to unintentionally not consume enough water, leading to significant dehydration. It is crucial for athletes and coaches to prioritize water intake throughout all physical activities. Simply relying on an athlete's sense of thirst may not be sufficient for maintaining proper hydration. Coaches should serve as role models in promoting hydration practices. It is essential to never deny an athlete access to water, regardless of the circumstances. Student-athletes should always have access to water whenever they request it.

OPTIMAL HYDRATION PRACTICES

OPTIMAL HYDRATION PRACTICES

1. Stay hydrated throughout the day: Encourage athletes to drink water regularly, even when they are not actively participating in sports. Hydration should be a consistent practice.

2. Drink water before, during, and after exercise: It's important for athletes to drink water before their activity to ensure they start adequately hydrated. During exercise, they should take regular water breaks to replenish fluids, and after exercise, they should continue hydrating to aid in recovery.

3. Monitor thirst cues: Athletes should pay attention to their body's signals of thirst and drink fluids accordingly. However, it's essential to note that thirst is not always a reliable indicator of hydration needs.

4. Choose appropriate fluids: Water is generally the best choice for hydration. For intense or prolonged exercise lasting more than an hour, sports drinks containing electrolytes can help replenish lost minerals.

5. Consider environmental conditions: Environmental factors such as hot and humid weather increase fluid loss through sweating. In such conditions, athletes should increase their fluid intake accordingly.

6. Individualize fluid needs: Fluid requirements can vary based on factors like body weight, intensity of exercise, and individual sweat rates. Consulting with a sports nutritionist or healthcare professional can help determine specific fluid guidelines for each athlete.

Proper hydration is crucial for optimizing athletic performance and maintaining overall well-being. Encourage athletes to prioritize their fluid intake and make it an integral part of their training routine.

LIGHTING AND INCREMENT WEATHER

PROTOCOLS BVSD COACHES USE TO KEEP STUDENT-ATHLETES SAFE

Assign a staff member to monitor weather conditions before, during and after practice/games.
Develop an evacuation plan, including identifying where students should go when told to evacuate.
Review criteria for suspension and resumption of practice or play:
- When thunder is heard, or a cloud-to-ground lightning bolt is seen, the thunderstorm is close enough to strike your location. SUSPEND PLAY and take shelter IMMEDIATELY.
- Thirty-minute rule. Once practice or play has been suspended, wait at least 30 minutes after the LAST thunder is heard or flash of lightning is witnessed prior to resuming outdoor activity.
- Any subsequent thunder after the beginning of the 20 minute count RESET the clock and another 30 minute count should begin.

LIGHTNING SAFETY MYTHS AND TRUTHS

Source: NOAA

Myth: If it’s not raining or there aren’t clouds overhead, you’re safe from lightning. Fact: Lightning often strikes more than three miles from the center of the thunderstorm, far outside the rain or thunderstorm cloud. “Bolts from the blue” can strike 10-15 miles from the thunderstorm.

Myth: If outside in a thunderstorm, you should seek shelter under a tree to stay dry. Fact: Being underneath a tree is the second leading cause of lightning casualties. Better to get wet than fried!

Myth: If thunderstorms threaten while you are outside playing a game, it is okay to finish it before seeking shelter. Fact: Many lightning casualties occur because people do not seek shelter soon enough. No game is worth death or life-long injuries. Seek proper shelter immediately if you hear thunder. Adults are responsible for the safety of children.

Myth: If trapped outside and lightning is about to strike, I should lie flat on the ground. Fact: Lying flat increases your chance of being affected by potentially deadly ground current. If you are caught outside in a thunderstorm, you keep moving toward a safe shelter.

LIGHTING POLICY

Source: NOAA

Studies have shown most people struck by lightning are struck not at the height of a thunderstorm, but before and after the storm has peaked. This is because lightning can strike as far as 10 miles from the area where it is raining and many people are unaware of how far lightning can strike from its parent thunderstorm.

Therefore, if you can hear thunder, you are within striking distance. Seek safe shelter immediately. Remember this lightning safety rule...When thunder roars, go indoors and stay there until 30 minutes after the last clap of thunder. DO NOT wait for the rain to start before seeking shelter, and do not leave shelter just because the rain has ended.

• If you hear thunder, lightning is close enough to strike you.

• When you hear thunder, immediately move to safe shelter.

CLICK HERE TO LEARN MORE ABOUT LIGHTING

HOT WEATHER GUIDELINES

COLD WEATHER GUIDELINES

Student Accident Health Insurance

Low-cost student accident insurance is offered by K&K Insurance Company. Their enrollment method is electronic and they will not be providing print outs to schools to distribute to students. The information and application are available on K&K Insurance Company's website

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Athlete Safety and Health

Concussion Information

General Information

What is a concussion?

Resources

Resources

What are signs and symptoms of a concussion?

What should you do if you think your child has a concussion?

TIPS FOR STAYING HYDRATED AND FLUID GUIDELINES FOR ATHLETES

OPTIMAL HYDRATION PRACTICES

LIGHTING AND INCREMENT WEATHER

PROTOCOLS BVSD COACHES USE TO KEEP STUDENT-ATHLETES SAFE

LIGHTNING SAFETY MYTHS AND TRUTHS

LIGHTING POLICY

EXTREME HEAT AND COLD

HOT WEATHER GUIDELINES

COLD WEATHER GUIDELINES

Student Accident Health Insurance