Schools

Council Rock Unveils Concussion Prevention Program

Council Rock School District, St. Mary's Medical Center, and Princeton Brain and Spine Care have joined forces for the Concussion Prevention and Education Project.

According to the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention, sports cause as many as 3.8 million brain injuries each year.  More than one million of those injuries happen to high school athletes. 

Council Rock School District, the Trauma Prevention Program at St. Mary’s Medical Center, and Princeton Brain and Spine Care have joined forces to prevent local teens from becoming the next victim of brain injury.

The newly-launched Concussion Prevention and Education Project aims to provide parents, students, teachers and coaches with the educational and technical tools they need to prevent brain injuries from athletics.

The objective of the campaign is to raise awareness of the importance of identifying concussions, as well as help administer the computer-based ImPACT neurocognitive testing to high school athletes. 

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ImPACT testing is a computerized neurocognitive assessment tool that is used by medical doctors and athletic trainers to determine an athlete's ability to return to play after suffering a concussion, explained information provided by St. Mary's.

ImPACT testing will be administered to all student athletes prior to the start of the season so that a baseline is provided of how a student’s brain typically operates, according to the South football website and Mike Horan, Council Rock North's athletic trainer.

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ImPACT testing for both Council Rock North and Council Rock South will be held this week.

"Baseline testing is imperative before starting a sport so results can be compared before and after a head injury occurs," Horan said.

Doctors say concussions can affect students in all areas of their lives, including their physical, emotional and cognitive functioning.  Concussions can be serious injuries if not treated properly, health care providers say.

Here are some important dates to note on your calendar:

August 10: ImPACT testing for Council Rock South student athletes for fall sports from 9 to 11 a.m. Parents are welcome to attend the educational session beforehand.

August 17: Make-up date for ImPACT testing from 1 to 3 p.m.

September 20: Concussion discussion sponsored by Princeton Brain and Spine. Registration begins at 6 p.m., the program starts at 7 p.m. The event will be held at the Sheraton, Bucks County


For more information about the program, visit www.crsfootball.com or www.impacttest.com.


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