HARRISBURG, November 1, 2011 – Senator Jay Costa (D-Allegheny) hailed Senate passage of legislation which will establish guidelines regarding management of concussions and head injuries to student athletes. The unanimous vote in favor of Senate Bill 200 sends it to the governor’s desk for his approval.
“These are serious life-threatening injuries which kids are shrugging off in order to get back on the field, and they can have long-term, life-altering effects,” said Costa. “Competitive spirit is something we can all appreciate, but not when it poses a serious threat to some of our youngest and most promising athletes.”
According to the American Academy of Neurology, 40 percent of high school athletes that suffer concussions return to play too soon, and during the 2007-08 season 1 in 6 football players who suffered a concussion and lost consciousness returned in the same game.
If the bill is signed into law, a coach will be required to remove a student with symptoms of a concussion or traumatic brain injury from play. The athlete will have to be evaluated and cleared for return in writing by an appropriate medical professional. Coaches who do not comply will be penalized.
“I stood with NFL representatives and former NFL players earlier this year to speak in support of this bill. They know firsthand how those hard hits can have a serious long-term impact,” said Costa. “There is no reason for any young athlete to stay in the game if they’re experiencing signs of serious injury. Now coaches, parents, and students will be accountable and involved in making sure our children are protected.”
Additional components of Senate Bill 200:
- Requires coaches to annually complete a concussion management certification training course offered by the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention, the National Federation of State High School Associations or another provider approved by the Dept. of Health.
- Penalties for coaches who fail to comply with the provisions of the act – 1st offense: suspension from coaching any athletic activity for the remainder of the season; 2nd offense: suspension from coaching any athletic activity for the remainder of the season and for the next season; 3rd offense: permanent suspension from coaching any athletic activity. These are the minimum penalties to be established by a school board under the legislation.
- Requires involved students and their parents/guardians to annually sign and return to the school an acknowledgement of receipt of the concussion and brain injury information prior to the student’s participation in practice or competition.
- School entities may also hold an informational meeting prior to the start of each athletic season for all ages of competitors regarding concussions and other head injuries and the importance of proper concussion management.
An estimated 3.8 million sports-related concussions occur in the United States each year. In Pennsylvania, the figure could be as high as 156,000 concussions per year.
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