Typical Symptoms include:

• Headache

• Dizziness
• Nausea
• Loss of balance
• Feeling stunned or dazed
• Double-vision Ringing in ears
• Sensitivity to light/noise
• Slurred speech
• Emotional or personality changes

What are the different types of concussion?

First Degree: Brief period of confusion, with no loss of consciousness. Symptoms are gone in under 15 minutes.
Second Degree: Loss of consciousness (however brief) or symptoms beyond 15 minutes.

What to do?
The Ontario Brain Injury Association, the Canadian Hockey Association, and the Hockey Development Centre of Ontario suggest these guidelines to help identify and care for concussion.
Concussion Management:

• Loss of consciousness - initiate Emergency Medical Service

• Rule out neck injury

• Do not give medication

• Notify parent or guardian
• Return to play only with physician's permission

Return to Play ... only begins after a physician has given the player clearance to return to activity. If any symptoms return, the player must be re-evaluated.

Step 1: No activity, complete rest. Proceed to step 2 when player has no symptoms and a doctor's clearance.
Step 2: Light aerobic exercise such as walking or stationary cycling.
Step 3: Sport-specific training (e.g. skating in hockey)
Step 4: Non-contact training drills
Step 5: Full-contact training after physician's clearance
Step 6: Game play

Did you know?

• A concussion occurs every four minutes in Canada.
• Approximately 20% of concussions result from organized sports activities.
• Risk of concussion in sport is higher in contact sports like hockey.
• Someone who has had a concussion is four times more likely to have another concussion.
• The more concussions an individual has he longer it takes to recover from another concussion.
• The average age for a first concussion is 10.
• 1/3 of youth will have a concussion before they leave high school.
• Some youth who have had a concussion will end up with a learning disability.
  
  Any sport has a risk of injury. A balance must be reached between a competitive edge and ensuring safety. Loss of objectivity on the part of players, coaches, spectators, and parents can lead to a potentially harmful outcome.
  
  Awareness of types, symptoms, management and prevention of concussion can go a long way to reduce the risk or severity of injury for young athletes.
  
  Remember, "When in doubt, sit them out!"