Lone Peak Youth Baseball

Protocol for Reporting Suspected Concussions & Injuries

 

Overview of Coach's Responsibility:

If anyone is injured at a game or practice, the coach must:

1. Electronically submit to lpbaseballpresident@gmail.com a report of the incident,
2. Contact the parent/guardian immediately and confirm they are aware of the injury, and
3. Email their relevant league official to alert them of the injury and report submission.

 

 If a concussion is SUSPECTED, the coach must also additionally:

1. Remove the child from play immediately, and
2. Not allow the child to return to play unless the coach receives a return to play Certification signed by both a parent/guardian AND a medical professional/trainer.

 

What to Report:  

An incident that causes any player, manager, coach, umpire, volunteer or spectator to receive medical treatment and/or first aid must be reported by team coaches to lpbaseballpresident@gmail.com and the commissioner over the division in which it occured within 48 hours of the incident. This includes even passive, on-field treatments such as the evaluation and diagnosis of the injury, its severity and periods of rest.

 How to Make the Report:

Reports should include:  (i) information about the person involved, (ii) date, time, and location of the incident, (iii) as detailed a description of the incident as possible, (iv)preliminary estimate of the extent of  the injuries, and (v) name and phone number of the person reporting the incident.

Who to Notify:

In addition to the information described above, incidents must be reported immediately by email or phone to the appropriate league official as well as the parents / guardians of the affected individuals (as appropriate).

 

WHAT SHOULD A COACH DO IF A CONCUSSION IS SUSPECTED?

Coaches must follow the CDC Heads-up protocol as learned in their concussion training provided by the CDC.  Heads up training is REQUIRED for all league volunteers and coaches.

https://www.cdc.gov/headsup/youthsports/index.html

 No matter whether the athlete is a key member of the team or the game is about to end, an athlete with a suspected concussion should be immediately removed from play. To help you know how to respond, follow the Heads Up four step action plan:

1. REMOVE THE ATHLETE FROM PLAY. Look for signs and symptoms of a concussion if your athlete has experienced a bump or blow to the head or body. When in doubt, sit them out!
2. ENSURE THAT THE ATHLETE IS EVALUATED BY AN APPROPRIATE HEALTH CARE PROFESSIONAL. Do not try to judge the severity of the injury yourself. Health care professionals have a number of methods that they can use to assess the severity of concussions. As a coach, recording the following information can help health care professionals in assessing the athlete after the injury: •  Cause of the injury and force of the hit or blow to the head or body •  Any loss of consciousness (passed out/knocked out) and if so, for how long •  Any memory loss immediately following the injury •  Any seizures immediately following the injury •  Number of previous concussions (if any)
3. INFORM THE ATHLETE’S PARENTS OR GUARDIANS. Let them know about the possible concussion and give them the Heads Up fact sheet for parents. This fact sheet can help parents monitor the athlete for sign or symptoms that appear or get worse once the athlete is at home or returns to school.
4. KEEP THE ATHLETE OUT OF PLAY. An athlete should be removed from play the day of the injury and until an appropriate health care professional says they are symptom-free and it’s OK to return to play. After you remove an athlete with a suspected concussion from practice or play, the decision about return to practice or play is a medical decision.

 

If a suspected concussion has been identified, then the injured person or his/her parents/guardians must provide the his/her coach and the relevant league official(s) with the following documents before being allowed to return to play (whether practices or games):

 

1. No Concussion:

                A completed and signed note from a medical professional indicating that no concussion was suffered.

 

1. Concussion: in the case of a concussion, 

                A completed and signed note from a medical professional that the injured person is cleared to return-to-play.  This must also be signed by the relevant parent/guardian.