Reminder for parents on National Concussion Awareness Day

Friday, September 15, 2017
Reminder for parents on National Concussion Awareness Day
Reminder for parents on National Concussion Awareness Day: Ali Gorman reports during Action News at 5pm on September 15, 2017.

September 15 is National Concussion Awareness Day. Prevention efforts and detecting problems have gotten better, but there are still some misconceptions.

Experts remind parents of athletes that symptoms may not show up right after impact.

"They usually peak within the first few hours or so, but they can be delayed in onset. So the athlete that has a concussion during the game may not know it until they go home and they start to feel a little bit off or even the next day when they start to go to school, they realize that they're not functioning as well as they have been in the past," said Dr. Richard Figler from the Cleveland Clinic.

The symptoms like headaches, dizziness or sleeping problems can last anywhere from 10 to 14 days.

Athletes should be kept out of play until they are fully recovered and cleared by a doctor.

One other misconception is that new technology in helmets can prevent concussions.

Dr. Figler says helmets can help but there is no helmet that has been proven to prevent concussions.

----------

Send a breaking news alert
Report a correction or typo
Learn more about the 6abc apps