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Toolkit helps coaches respond to concussions

School districts that are members of the PACE property and casualty insurance program will soon have vital information about dealing with concussions in athletes.

PACE, in cooperation with OSBA, is printing and distributing a notebook that covers everything from concussion warning signs to protocols for returning to action. The Oregon Concussion Awareness and Management Program developed the content for the notebook.

The notebook is designed to help schools carry out a 2009 state law that takes effect this school year. Under the law, Oregon school districts must ensure that their coaches receive yearly training on recognizing the symptoms of concussions and seeking medical treatment. The law also requires coaches to bar an athlete from events or training for at least the day after an injury and until the athlete is both symptom-free and provides a medical release.

The notebook is written in everyday language that coaches and others can easily use. It includes a review of the law, recommended procedures for applying it, sample district policies, checklists for recognizing concussions and returning athletes to competition, fact sheets designed for parents and students, and guidelines on adapting coursework for concussion-affected students.

In addition to the notebook, PACE will be distributing a concussion-awareness lanyard and quick reference card that coaches can carry with them. PACE also will make the notebook and related materials available to its community college members, even though the law does not cover their programs.

For more information, contact Scott Neufeld, PACE risk manager, sneufeld@sdao.com,  800-285-5461.