Head trauma is a common but serious problem in sports. Concussions can easily become far more serious than TV and film violence may have you believe. Kids may understate symptoms in an effort to be tough or return to sports sooner. The following return to play guidelines are used by one of the best HS Athletic Departments in WNY. It's important to know your athletes' history of concussions during the previous 12 months. They might be on their first or second concussion when they start your sport.

Grade 1  No loss of consciousness, symptomatic for less than 15 minutes, no posttraumatic amnesia.

Grade 2   No loss of consciousness, symptomatic greater than 15 minutes, no posttraumatic amnesia less than 30 minutes. 90% of all concussions are Grade 2.

Grade 3  Loss of consciousness for seconds, symptomatic greater than 15 minutes, no posttraumatic amnesia less than 30 minutes.

Grade 3+  Loss of consciousness lasting more than a few seconds.

Return to play guidelines.

If the first concussion is Grade 1, Return to play after asymptomatic for 15 minutes

If the first concussion is Grade 2,  Return to play after asymptomatic for one week.

If the first concussion is Grade 3, Return to play after asymptomatic for one week.

If the first concussion is Grade 3+, Return to play after asymptomatic for two weeks.

If the second concussion is Grade 1, Return to play after asymptomatic for one week.

If the second concussion is Grade 2, Return to play after asymptomatic for two weeks.

If the second concussion is Grade 3, Return to play after asymptomatic for one month.

If the second concussion is Grade 3+, Return to play after asymptomatic for one month.

If there is a third concussion of any Grade , Terminate play for the season.

Qualified AthleticTrainers or Medical Personnel should make these determinations.