head-injury-reg-guide-acc.doc - Head Strong Guidance for...

Head Strong
Guidance for Implementing the Massachusetts Regulations
on Head Injuries and Concussions in School Athletics
JANUARY 2012
Developed by the Massachusetts Department of Public Health
January 2012
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Table of Contents
Acknowledgements: Page 4
Foreword by Massachusetts Department of Public Health: Page 5
Sample Introductions to School Policies on Head Injuries and Concussions in
Extracurricular Athletic Activities: Page 7
Required Policy Components:
Section 1: Persons Responsible for Implementation of School Policy and
Procedures: Page 9
Section 2: Annual Training Requirement: Page 10
Section 3: Documentation of Physical Examination: Page 14
Section 4: Pre-participation Head Injury Reporting Forms, Submission and
Review: Page 16
Section 5: Medical/Nursing Review of Pre-participation Forms: Page 19
Section 6: Medical/Nursing Review of Reports of Head Injury During the Season:
Page 20
Section 7: Procedure for Reporting Head Injuries to School Nurse and/or
Certified Athletic Trainer: Page 23
Section 8: Removing Athletes from Play and Medical Evaluation: Page 25
Section 9: Medical Clearance for Return to Play: Page 29
Section 10: Development and Implementation of Post-Concussion Graduated
Re-entry Plans: Page 34
Section 11: Providing Information, Forms and Materials to Parents and Athletes
11a) Annual Training Requirement: Page 42
11b) Notifying parents when an athlete has been removed from play for a
suspected concussion: Page 43
11c) Obtaining medical clearance for return to play and academics after a
diagnosed concussion: Page 44
11d) Completion of the Pre-participation Form: Page 45
11e) Completion of Report of a Head Injury Form: Page 46
Section 12: Inclusion of Sports-Related Head Injury Policy in the Student and
Parent Handbook: Page 47
Section 13: Communicating with Parents with Limited English Proficiency: Page
50
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Section 14: Outreach to Parents for Forms and Training Completion: Page 51
Section 15: Sharing Concussion-Related Health Information: Page 52
Section 16: Requirements for Coaches, Athletic Trainers, Trainers and Volunteers
16a) Teaching Strategies that Minimize Sports-Related Head Injury: Page 54
16b) Prohibiting Dangerous Play: Page 55
Section 17: Penalties: Page 56
Additional Resources: Page 57
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Acknowledgements
The Massachusetts Department of Public Health (MDPH) would like to
acknowledge the work of a number of individuals for their participation
in preparing this document. These model school policies were developed
through the combined efforts of the following MDPH staff who have contributed
significant time and expertise:
Lauren Smith, MD, MPH, Medical Director
Cheryl Bartlett, RN, Director of Bureau of Community Health and Prevention
Carlene Pavlos, Director of Division of Violence and Injury Prevention
Anne Sheetz, RN, MPH, CNAA, Director of School Health Services
Linda Brown, Division of Violence and Injury Prevention
Tom Comerford, School Health Services
Renee Aird, BSN, MS, Director of School-based Health Center Programs
Peggy A. Wiesenberg, Esq., Deputy General Counsel