Over the past two weeks I have spoken to many of the boys playing Rugby this season and those in the 1sts and 2nds Football squad about concussion, signs, symptoms and how the school manages concussion.

Concussion is a common traumatic brain injury that causes disturbance in the brain’s functional ability to acquire and process information.

Common symptoms include headache, dizziness, nausea and vomiting, confusion, sensitivity to light / noise, difficulty concentrating, sleep changes, fatigue, poor memory, irritability or anxiousness.

It’s important to remember a player does not need to be knocked out to receive a concussion. Boys who are suspected of concussion must be removed from the field of play and are not allowed to return that day. Players should be referred for assessment by a doctor even if the symptoms have disappeared. If you as a parent notice your son has any symptoms after a game or training you should seek medical advice.

The treatment for concussion is mental and physical rest until symptoms have subsided. Mental rest can include rest from school and homework, computer games, phones and TV watching.

Physical rest is required until all symptoms have subsided and a period of 14 days without contact sport has passed. Remember this is a rule from the Australian Rugby Union so we must comply.Details can be found here. 

If concussed, the boys need to obtain a Doctors Medical Certificate to allow them to return to contact training. These certificates need to be returned to the clinic.

Baseline testing for concussion has been taking place at Newington College for eight years using a simple pen and paper test. This year we have teamed up with Dr Ryan Kohler, the Concussion Specialist to the Australian Rugby Union, and have commenced online baseline testing using the HeadSmart program. This online test consists of 4 card games which measure accuracy, reaction time, memory and coordination.

Boys are emailed an individual voucher code which they need to access the online test. It takes approx 10 minutes and should be completed at home in a quiet place with no distractions to ensure the most accurate result. Players, please check your emails regularly and complete the test as soon as possible

If the player sustains a concussion, the test will be repeated in the clinic and the results compared and taken into consideration with physical examination and balance testing. This all helps to determine that the brain has fully recovered and that the player can safely return to play.

Newington is keen to follow the best practice in concussion management and believe that online testing is the next step to keep in line with current medical recommendations.

Sister Margaret Bates
College Nurse