At Peccole Little League, player safety is our top priority. We are committed to ensuring a fun and secure environment for all participants by strictly adhering to the safety guidelines set forth by Little League. From proper equipment use to concussion awareness, we leave no stone unturned when it comes to protecting our players. It is vital that parents, coaches, and volunteers stay informed and complete all required safety training to uphold the highest standards of player health and well-being. Together, we create a community where every child can play with confidence and joy.

WHAT IS A CONCUSSION?

A concussion is a type of traumatic brain injury (TBI) caused by a bump, blow, or jolt to the head, or a hit to the body that causes the head and brain to move rapidly back and forth. This rapid movement can cause the brain to bounce around or twist within the skull, leading to chemical changes in the brain and, in some cases, stretching or damaging brain cells.

HOW CAN I HELP KEEP MY CHILDREN SAFE?

Sports are a great way for children and teens to stay healthy and succeed in school. To help reduce the risk of concussions or serious brain injuries:

• Promote a culture of safety on the team.
• Collaborate with coaches to teach strategies for minimizing concussion risks.
• Discuss concussions with your child or teen, addressing their concerns and stressing the importance of reporting injuries and allowing time to recover.
• Ensure they follow safety rules and the rules of the sport.
• Encourage good sportsmanship at all times.
• When appropriate, ensure they wear helmets to reduce the risk of severe head injuries. However, remind them that no helmet can fully prevent concussions, so avoiding head impacts is still crucial.

Talk with your children and teens about concussion. Tell them to report their concussion symptoms to you and their coach right away. Some children and teens think concussions aren’t serious or worry that if they report a concussion they will lose their position on the team or look weak. Be sure to remind them that it’s better to miss one game than the whole season.

Concussions affect each child and teen differently. While most children and teens with a concussion feel better within a couple of weeks, some will have symptoms for months or longer. Talk with your children’s or teens’ health care provider if their concussion symptoms do not go away or if they get worse after they return to their regular activities.

ADDITIONAL SIGNS TO LOOK FOR

In rare cases, a dangerous collection of blood (hematoma) may form on the brain after a bump, blow, or jolt to the head or body and can squeeze the brain against the skull. Call 9-1-1 or take your child or teen to the emergency department right away if, after a bump, blow, or jolt to the head or body, he or she has one or more of these danger signs:

• One pupil larger than the other.
• Drowsiness or inability to wake up.
• A headache that gets worse and does not go away.
• Slurred speech, weakness, numbness, or decreased coordination.
• Repeated vomiting or nausea, convulsions or seizures (shaking or twitching).
• Unusual behavior, increased confusion, restlessness, or agitation.
• Loss of consciousness (passed out/knocked out). Even a brief loss of consciousness should be taken seriously.

Children and teens who continue to play while having concussion symptoms or who return to play too soon—while the brain is still healing— have a greater chance of getting another concussion. A repeat concussion that occurs while the brain is still healing from the rest injury can be very serious and can affect a child or teen for a lifetime. It can even be fatal.

WHAT SHOULD I DO IF MY CHILD HAS A POSSIBLE CONCUSSION?

As a parent, if you think your child or teen may have a concussion, you should:

1.  Remove your child or teen from play.
2. Keep your child or teen out of play the day of the injury. Your child or teen should be seen by a health care provider and only return to play with permission from a health care provider who is experienced in evaluating for concussion.
3. Ask your child’s or teen’s health care provider for written instructions on helping your child or teen return to school. You can give the instructions to your child’s or teen’s school nurse and teacher(s) and return-to-play instructions to the coach and/or athletic trainer.

Do not try to judge the severity of the injury yourself. Only a health care provider should assess a child or teen for a possible concussion. Concussion signs and symptoms often show up soon after the injury. But you may not know how serious the concussion is at rst, and some symptoms may not show up for hours or days. The brain needs time to heal after a concussion. A child’s or teen’s return to school and sports should be a gradual process that is carefully managed and monitored by a health care provider.

To learn more, please visit https://www.cdc.gov/heads-up/