WI's New Concussion Law
"When in doubt, sit them out!"
A concussion is a traumatic injury caused by an impact to the head or body which moves or twists the brain inside the skull. Medical research indicates adolescents are more susceptible to concussions than adults and take longer to recover. Less than 10% of concussions result in the loss of consciousness, making the injury difficult to diagnose, especially during the excitement of live competition.
WI Act 172, effective on April 16, creates a new set of requirements applicable to all schools and athletic organizations with participants under the age of nineteen. The primary objective of WI Act 172 is to educate coaches, umpires, parents and athletes to recognize the signs of a concussion and take steps to remove affected athletes from competition until cleared by a health care professional with experience in treating head injuries.
The requirements of WI Act 172 are as follows:
* At the beginning of each athletic season, the person operating the youth athletic activity shall distribute a concussion and head injury information sheet to each person who will be coaching that youth athletic activity and to each person who wishes to participate in that youth athletic activity.
* No person may participate in a youth athletic activity unless the person returns the information sheet signed by the person AND, if he or she is under the age of 19, by his or her parent or guardian. This includes all coaches and umpires.
* A coach, umpire or health care provider (trainer) must remove any person suspected of sustaining a head injury during practice or competition until such person has received written clearance by a medical professional to return to play.
Individuals and organizations adhering to the requirements of WI Act 172 are immune from civil liability for any injury resulting from a concussion except in cases of gross negligence or willful or wanton misconduct.
Listed below are template forms you may find helpful as you prepare for the requirements of WI Act 172.
* Concussion Fact Sheet - Athletes
* Concussion Fact Sheet - Guardians
* Concussion Fact Sheet - Coaches
* Acknowledgment Form - Athletes/Guardians
* Acknowledgment Form - Coaches
In addition, the Wisconsin Interscholastic Athletic Association (WIAA) has prepared two important resources for coaches and other personnel. The first link below is a sideline assessment tool to help athletic personnel identify the early signs of a concussed player. The second link provides access to a free, on-line course for medical professionals involved in the early diagnosis of head injuries.
* SCAT2 - Sideline Assessment Tool
* On-line Training
