It’s true that there is a growing awareness of sports-related concussions in youth. Doctors, parents, school nurses and coaches have information available to them that did not exist even a few years ago. But it’s also true that there is still a lot of confusion swirling around the issue of concussion. Just because information is available doesn’t mean it is accessed and understood.

Last year, the Institute of Medicine and the National Research Council formed a committee to review the science of sports-related concussions in youth. They included young children, adults, members of the military and their dependents. The result? The committee issued a report recommending more research, more legislative changes and more education in schools and across the academic community.

For parents, it is critical that they get as much information as possible about what a concussion is, how it is diagnosed and managed, and what to do following head injuries, particularly if their children are involved in sports.

To learn more, I’d like to direct parents to the following: http://www.iom.edu/Reports/2013/Sports-Related-Concussions-in-Youth-Improving-the-Science-Changing-the-Culture.aspx

It’s a simple, five question quiz that provides the correct answers and the results. How well will you do? It doesn’t matter, because you can’t fail. You’ll come away with more knowledge – knowledge that could be life-saving for your child.