According to the CDC, a concussion occurs when a person sustains a traumatic brain injury caused by a bump, blow or jolt to the head. Contrary to popular belief, this does not necessarily involve a loss of consciousness.
The goal of the legislation is to specifically prevent something known as Second Impact Syndrome. The condition is scary and incredibly deadly and occurs when a young person receives two head injuries in relatively quick succession. SIS happens when the brain swells quickly and is sometimes fatal in young athletes. Medical experts say that if a brain is not given enough time to recover from an initial concussion, a second one can have a devastating, and often fatal, effect. This is even the case when the second injury is nothing more than a small bump. Though the second injury is what causes the brain to swell quickly, it’s the first injury that makes the player a walking time bomb.
Last year, a similar bill known as the Wesley Ward Youth Concussion Act, passed unanimously in the Senate, but failed to gain any traction in the House. This year, supporters hope increased media attention surround the dangers of concussions will improve the chance of the measure passing. The bill got its name after a high school football player in the state who had to have emergency brain surgery after sustaining a concussion while practicing. The man recovered but still has no memory of the five months after his injury.
If you or someone you love has been injured, it is important that you speak with a Mississippi personal injury attorney who has the knowledge and skill to properly handle your civil claim. The attorneys at Stroud, Flechas & Dalton have years of experience and have successfully obtained compensation for our clients who have been injured by others’ recklessness.
Source: “Concussions in youth sports focus of bill backed by NFL, Mississippi High School Activities Association,” by Jimmie Gates, published at ClarionLedger.com.
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