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HomeMy WebLinkAboutCity Clerk - Administration and Management Records - Policy & Procedure Records (57) Page 1 of 3 PUBLIC FACILITIES, RECREATION & SPECIAL EVENTS DEPARTMENT POLICY NUMBER 1.43 CONCUSSION POLICY June 10, 2021 Section 1 - Administration I. PURPOSE The City of Glendale Public Facilities, Recreation & Special Events (PFRSE) Department recognizes that concussions and head injuries can result from contact in sports and have serious consequences if not properly evaluated and treated. This following policy has been put in place to help educate and establish a plan of action for coaches, volunteers, staff, and any authorized third-party program using Department facilities (referred to as Agents of PFRSE Department herein) and parents/guardians for any participant that suffers or suspected of suffering a concussion during a sporting event. II. POLICY It shall be the policy of PFRSE that all Agents as well as parents/guardians of players will be familiar with the symptoms and signs of concussion and be prepared to take appropriate action as outlined below in responding to such incidents. In the event of a suspected concussion, PFRSE agents must adhere to PFRSE Policy 1.6-Incident Policy Guideline and PFRSE Policy 1.7 Accident Reporting Procedure and complete the City of Glendale’s Incident Report Form (see attachment) in compliance with the City of Glendale’s risk management program. “When in doubt, sit them out!” Youth players are particularly vulnerable to the effects of concussion. Once considered little more than a minor “ding” on the head, it is now understood that a concussion has the potential to result in death, or short- and long-term changes in brain function. A concussion is a brain injury that results in a temporary disruption of normal brain function. A concussion occurs when the brain is violently rocked back and forth or twisted inside the skull as a result of a blow to the head or body. Symptoms include (but are not limited to) transient confusion, disorientation, impaired consciousness, dysfunction of memory, loss of consciousness, seizures, irritability, lethargy, vomiting, headache, dizziness, or fatigue. Continued participation in any sporting event following a concussion can lead to worsening concussion symptoms, as well as increased risk for further injury to the brain and even death. The well-being of the players is of paramount concern during a sporting event. Agents and parents/guardians are being asked to make all efforts to ensure that concussed players do not continue to participate. Thus, Agents and parents/guardians should all be looking for signs of concussion in all players and any suspected concussed player should immediately be removed from play. PFRSE Agents should not hesitate to call 911 for any injury, including concussion, if deemed necessary. All Agents will be familiar with and will receive a copy of this Policy as well as the Concussion Recognition Tool 5 (see attachment). Parents/guardians will be provided a copy of this Policy as well as the informational Concussion Recognition Tool 5. These documents should be reviewed by parent/guardian before the player will be allowed to participate in a sporting event. Page 2 of 3 Role of coaches, volunteers, and staff: (Agents) Coaches, volunteers and staff will NOT be expected nor will they be trained to “diagnose” a concussion. Diagnosis is the job of a qualified health care provider. Agents are being asked to use their best judgment in observing the signs, symptoms and behaviors associated with concussions. If an Agent observes questionable signs, symptoms, or behavior, he/she must remove the player from the sporting event for further evaluation and notify the player’s parent/guardian and fill out the appropriate Injury/Accident Report form. Agents are not permitted to allow a player to resume activity until PFRSE Department receives a written statement from a qualified health care provider indicating that the player is cleared to resume participation in the sporting event. Role of Officials: Officials will NOT be expected to “diagnose” a concussion. Officials are being asked to use their best judgment in observing the signs, symptoms, and behaviors associated with concussions. Officials will not be asked to give what could be perceived as a medical opinion. If an official observes questionable signs, symptoms, or behavior, the official should notify the Agent, and the player should be removed from the sporting event. Officials are not responsible for the sideline evaluation or management of the player after he/she is removed from play. Role of Parents/Guardians: Like Agents, parents/guardians will NOT be expected to “diagnose” a concussion. However, parents/guardians are being asked to become familiar with the signs, symptoms, and behaviors associated with concussions. Parents/guardians will be asked to review the Concussion Recognition Tool 5. Parents/guardians will be expected to comply with this Policy and support the determination made by the Agents to remove a player from a sporting event. It is the parent/guardian’s obligation to have the player evaluated by a qualified health care provider and to obtain from that provider a written statement that clears the player to resume participation in the sporting event. NOTE: Qualified health care providers should be one of the following: physician, physician’s assistant, registered nurse, licensed practical nurse, physical therapist, or athletic trainer. Mandated Course of Action: 1. Remove player from the sporting event. 2. Notify parent/guardian. 3. Any player suspected of having a concussion should be evaluated by a qualified health care provider as soon as practicable. 4. Before a player will be allowed to resume participation in a sporting event, the parent/guardian of the player must obtain a written statement from a qualified health care provider and submit statement to PFRSE Department indicating that the player is cleared to resume participation in the sporting event. NOTE: Athletes with continued concussion symptoms are at significant risk for recurrent, cumulative, and even catastrophic consequences of a second concussive injury. Such risks are minimized if the athlete is allowed time to recover from the concussion and return to play decisions are carefully made. No athlete may return-to-sport or other at-risk participation when symptoms of concussion are present, and recovery is ongoing. These guidelines shall be applied to all sports- related activity. Page 3 of 3 NOTE: This policy is applicable to Glendale PFRSE Department teams, leagues, programs, and events, as well as any authorized third-party organizations that use Department facilities. We strongly suggest taking one of the following courses on concussions. http://www.cdc.gov/headsup/youthsports/training/index.html or http://nfhslearn.com/courses/38000 Attachments: City of Glendale Incident Report Form Concussion Recognition Tool 5 Date: June 10, 2021 CITY OF GLENDALE- Incident Notification Report Employee Work Injury City Property Damage Report Vehicle Accident Report Exposure Notification Other (Accident/Incident) Who is completing this form: Supervisor Employee involved Person reporting City damage Name: Job Title: Work Phone: Cell Phone: Division # Dept # Current Shift hours, starting today: Date of Incident: Time of incident: Address/Location of Incident: Nature of Injury (sprain, cut, etc.) Body Part(s) Injured: Where Treated: Witnesses: Witness Contact Information: What City Property was Involved or Damaged (Address or Vehicle #) COG Driver Name: Damaged City Vehicle? No Yes Towed? No Yes Police Report #: Fire Report # TO BE COMPLETED BY EMPLOYEE Employee Description and Cause(s) of Accident: Employee Suggested Corrective Action(s): Employee Name (Please Print): Employee #: Date: Employee Signature: TO BE COMPLETED BY SUPERVISOR Is employee required to wear personal protective equipment (PPE) No Yes If so, what? Be specific Was employee utilizing PPE at time of injury/accident: No Yes If so, what? If so, what? Be specific Description and Cause(s) of Accident: What will be done to correct or eliminate the cause(s)? Please include anticipated completion dates Supervisor Name (Please Print): Employee #: Date: Supervisor Signature: Review / Comments: Dept. Head Name (Please Print): Employee #: Date: Dept. Head Signature: Owner of Property Involved: Address: Phone: Email: Vehicle Year, Make & Model: Insurance Contact: Other Person(s) Injured? No Yes Medical Attention Required: No Yes Name(s) of passengers: Additional Information DIAGRAM FOR ALL VEHICLE ACCIDENTS 1. Indicate direction: N, S, E, W 2. Indicate street names, directions of travel and locations of all objects involved 3. Number each vehicle, person and/or property involved and indicate direction of travel by arrow Example: 1 2 4. Show City-owned vehicle as “1” and other vehicle(s) as 2, 3, etc. 5. Use a solid line to show the path of travel of each vehicle before the accident and a dotted line after the accident Please use space below if diagram cannot adequately depict the scene. City of Glendale PROOF OF AUTOMOBILE INSURANCE Risk Management Department Policy No: Self-Insured (S/I) 5850 W. Glendale Ave. B56 Policy Term: 07/01/04 – Indefinite Glendale, AZ. 85301 Self-Insured Fleet Program – City of Glendale (623)930-2856 CONCUSSION RECOGNITION TOOL 5 © To help identify concussion in children, adolescents and adults © Concussion in Sport Group 2017 RECOGNISE & REMOVE Head impacts can be associated with serious and potentially fatal brain injuries. The Concussion Recognition Tool 5 (CRT5) is to be used for the identification of suspected concussion. It is not designed to diagnose concussion. STEP 1: RED FLAGS — CALL AN AMBULANCE If there is concern after an injury including whether ANY of the following signs are observed or complaints are reported then the player should be safely and immediately removed from play/game/activity. If no licensed healthcare professional is available, call an ambulance for urgent medical assessment: • Neck pain or tenderness • Double vision • Weakness or tingling/burning in arms or legs • Severe or increasing headache • Seizure or convulsion • Loss of consciousness • Deteriorating conscious state • Vomiting • Increasingly restless, agitated or combative Supported by Remember:• In all cases, the basic principles of first aid (danger, response, airway, breathing, circulation) should be followed. • Assessment for a spinal cord injury is critical. • Do not attempt to move the player (other than required for airway support) unless trained to so do. • Do not remove a helmet or any other equipment unless trained to do so safely. If there are no Red Flags, identification of possible concussion should proceed to the following steps: STEP 2: OBSERVABLE SIGNS Visual clues that suggest possible concussion include: • Lying motionless on the playing surface • Slow to get up after a direct or indirect hit to the head • Disorientation or confusion, or an inability to respond appropriately to questions • Blank or vacant look • Balance, gait difficulties, motor incoordination, stumbling, slow laboured movements • Facial injury after head trauma © Concussion in Sport Group 2017 STEP 3: SYMPTOMS • Headache • “Pressure in head” • Balance problems • Nausea or vomiting • Drowsiness • Dizziness • Blurred vision • Sensitivity to light • Sensitivity to noise • Fatigue or low energy • “Don’t feel right” • More emotional • More Irritable • Sadness • Nervous or anxious • Neck Pain • Difficulty concentrating • Difficulty remembering • Feeling slowed down • Feeling like “in a fog“ STEP 4: MEMORY ASSESSMENT (IN ATHLETES OLDER THAN 12 YEARS) Failure to answer any of these questions (modified appropriately for each sport) correctly may suggest a concussion: • “What venue are we at today?” • “Which half is it now?” • “Who scored last in this game?” • “What team did you play last week/game?” • “Did your team win the last game?” Athletes with suspected concussion should: • Not be left alone initially (at least for the first 1-2 hours). • Not drink alcohol. • Not use recreational/ prescription drugs. • Not be sent home by themselves. They need to be with a responsible adult. • Not drive a motor vehicle until cleared to do so by a healthcare professional. The CRT5 may be freely copied in its current form for distribution to individuals, teams, groups and organisations. Any revision and any reproduction in a digital form requires approval by the Concussion in Sport Group. It should not be altered in any way, rebranded or sold for commercial gain. ANY ATHLETE WITH A SUSPECTED CONCUSSION SHOULD BE IMMEDIATELY REMOVED FROM PRACTICE OR PLAY AND SHOULD NOT RETURN TO ACTIVITY UNTIL ASSESSED MEDICALLY, EVEN IF THE SYMPTOMS RESOLVE