ALBANY -- A new law that protects student athletes' heads may help change some minds.
"It articulates a public policy that recognizes that concussion is not something benign, it is something that needs to be paid attention to," said Judy Avner, executive director of the Brain Injury Association of New York.
With the enactment of the Concussion Management and Awareness Act, Avner hopes people will stop dismissing it as a "bump on the head."
The law, which was signed by Gov. Andrew Cuomo last month, goes into effect in July 2012. The law applies to school-sponsored sports and activities but does not encompass recreational sports or private schools. Under the law:
An athlete who suffers a head injury or suspected concussion must be immediately removed from athletic activity. When it doubt, sit them out.
The athlete cannot return to play for at least 24 hours, and only after being evaluated and cleared by a doctor.
All school coaches, gym teachers, school nurses and athletic trainers must complete a course on concussions and traumatic brain injury.
More than 30 states have passed similar legislation, 20 of which did so in the past year.
A concussion is a type of brain injury caused by a bump, blow or jolt that moves the brain rapidly back and forth. Even mild bumps can be serious. The injury releases chemicals that make the brain even more sensitive to further injuries.
Each year, the nation's emergency departments treat an estimated 173,000 sports and recreation-related brain injuries, according to the Centers for Disease Control. The CDC has free online training videos for coaches and parents on handling concussions.
The shortcomings of the law, brain injury groups said, is that it overlooks recreational sports, does not require athletes to be evaluated by a doctor experienced in brain injury, and fails to mandate baseline testing of athletes.
But "It's an important first step," Avner said.
Reach Crowley at 454-5348 or This e-mail address is being protected from spambots. You need JavaScript enabled to view it .
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