Concussion and Head Injury

The board of directors recognizes that concussions and head injuries are commonly reported injuries in children and adolescents who participate in sports and other recreational activities. The board acknowledges the risk of catastrophic injuries or death is significant when a concussion or head injury is not properly evaluated and managed.

Therefore, all competitive sport activities in the district will be identified by the administration and all appropriate district staff, coaches and team volunteers will complete training as required in Procedure 3422 to recognize warning signs and symptoms of concussion and head injury. Additionally, all coaches will comply with WIAA guidelines for the management of concussions and head injuries. 

Consistent with Washington law, the district will utilize guidelines developed with the Washington Interscholastic Activities Association (WIAA) and other pertinent information to inform and educate coaches, youth athletes, and their parents/guardians of the nature and risk of concussions or head injuries, including the dangers associated with continuing to play after a concussion or head injury. Annually, the district will distribute a head injury and concussion information sheet to all parents/guardians of student participants in competitive sport activities.

Prior to their first use of school facilities, all private nonprofit youth programs must provide a written statement of compliance with this policy in regard to concussion and head injury with proof of insurance as required by RCW 4.24.660.

Sudden Cardiac Arrest

The board of directors further recognizes that sudden cardiac arrest is reported to be the leading cause of death in young athletes.  The board will work with the WIAA and the University of Washington medicine center for sports cardiology to make available an online pamphlet that provides student athletes, their parents/guardians and coaches with information about sudden cardiac arrest.

To this end, the district will maintain a link on its website to the OSPI website where the online pamphlet will be posted.

Annually, prior to participating in an interscholastic athletic activity, students and their parent/guardian must review the online pamphlet and return a signed statement to the school documenting their review. This form may be combined with the annually distributed head injury and concussion information sheet referenced above.

The board will also work with the WIAA and the University of Washington medicine center for sports cardiology to make available an existing online sudden cardiac arrest prevention program for coaches.   Every three years, prior to coaching an interscholastic athletic activity, all coaches will complete the online program and provide a certificate of completion to the district.

All coaches, including volunteers, will complete training as required in the district procedure. Additionally, all coaches will comply with Washington Interscholastic Activities Association (WIAA) guidelines for the management of sudden cardiac arrest.

Prior to their first use of school facilities, all private nonprofit youth programs must provide a written statement of compliance with this policy in regard to sudden cardiac arrest with proof of insurance as required by RCW 4.24.660. 

Cross References:  
Board Policy 3413         Automated External Defibrillators
                           3418         Response to Student Injury or Illness
                           4260         Use of School Facilities

Legal References:  
RCW 4.24.660                  Liability of school districts under contract with youth programs
RCW 28A.600                   Students

Management Resources:  
Policy News                    August 2009; August 2014; June 2015   

ADOPTED: 11/24/2009
REVISED: 12/18/14; 7/23/15

Procedure No. 3422P Student Sports – Concussion, Head Injury and Sudden Cardiac Arrest 

Athletic Director or Administrator in Charge of Athletics Duties:   

1. Updating: Each spring, the athletic director, or the administrator in charge of athletics if there is no athletic director, shall review any changes that have been made in forms required for concussion, head injury and sudden cardiac arrest management by consulting with the WIAA or the WIAA Web site. If there are any updated forms, they will be adopted and used for the upcoming school year.
   
   
2. Identifying Sports: By June 30 of each year, the athletic director or administrator in charge will identify competitive sport activities in the district for which compliance with Policy 3422 is required. A list of competitive sports activities, Policy 3422 and this procedure will be distributed to all coaching staff and volunteers. 

Coach Training: All coaches will undergo training in head injury and concussion management and at least once every two years by one of the following means: (1) through attendance at a WIAA or similar clock hour presentation which uses WIAA guidelines; or (2) by completing WIAA online training. All coaches will undergo training in sudden cardiac arrest prevention every three years by completing an online program developed by the WIAA and the University of Washington medicine center for sports cardiology and providing proof of completion of same to the district. 

Parent Information: On a yearly basis, and prior to the youth athlete's initiating practice or competition, a concussion and head injury information sheet will be signed and returned by the youth athlete and the athlete's parent and/or guardian. The information sheet will also incorporate a statement attesting to the student and parent/guardian’s review of the online pamphlet on sudden cardiac arrest posted on the OSPI website.  The statement must be signed by both the student and parent. The information sheet may be incorporated into the parent permission sheet which allows students to participate in extracurricular athletics.

Coach’s Responsibility: A youth athlete who is suspected of sustaining a concussion or head injury in a practice or game or one who exhibits symptoms of sudden cardiac arrest will be immediately removed from play.

Return to Play after Concussion, Head Injury or symptoms of Sudden Cardiac Arrest: A student athlete who has been removed from play may not return to play until the athlete is evaluated by a licensed health care provider trained in the evaluation and management of concussion and sudden cardiac arrest and receives written clearance to return to play from that health care provider. The health care provider may be a volunteer.

ADOPTED: 11/24/2009
REVISED: 7/23/15