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| FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE |
| State Rep. Rep Brandon Neuman |
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Neuman introduces concussion-screening bill to protect Pa. student athletes
At little or no cost, baseline testing would be used to assess injuries
HARRISBURG, April 20 – State Rep. Brandon Neuman has introduced legislation (H.B. 1362) that would give school districts, medical professionals and certified athletic trainers a cost-effective and accurate method to assess whether a student athlete has sustained a concussion.
Neuman, who wrestled and played football and baseball in high school, said a sports-related concussion can be a serious or life-threatening injury if it is not treated properly.
"This issue has attracted a lot more attention over the past few years, particularly as professional sports athletes come out about their own concussion-related injuries," Neuman, D-Washington, said. "But unfortunately, the number of student concussion injuries continues to grow, so we have to keep raising awareness on the real danger these injuries pose to our students. Concussions can cause lifelong damage to the brain, and at an age when many kids are still developing, there has to be a process in place to measure the severity of those injuries."
Neuman's bill would require each student athlete to receive a baseline concussion screening at the start of the season. This would include all athletes participating in interscholastic athletics, regular and non-competitive cheerleading, and school- and club-sponsored sport activities.
Neuman said each student would be administered one of three available testing programs that measure baseline brain function: the Immediate Post-Concussion Assessment and Cognitive Testing program, the Trail Making Test, or the Sports Concussion Assessment Tool. This screening would be done in conjunction with the annual physical each student athlete is required to receive prior to being eligible for participation in Pennsylvania Interscholastic Athletic Association-sanctioned sports. He emphasized that these tests could be purchased by school districts and administered for a minimal cost.
The bill would further require an athlete that suffers a head injury or exhibits signs of a concussion at any time during the season to be removed from play immediately in order to be administered the test again. The test, administered by a medical professional or certified athletic trainer, would be assessed as soon as possible to indicate what, if any, cognitive damage the child has incurred in such areas as memory, reaction time and processing speed.
If an injury does occur, Neuman explained, there is a record of the athlete's normal brain function and certified athletic trainers and medical professionals can accurately determine if the athlete has a concussion and when he is ready to return to play.
"We want students to participate in high school sports; we just want to make sure it's safe," Neuman said. "A lot of times, the athlete is the hardest person to convince that they have a concussion, but they should not be allowed to shake it off and return to the field. My legislation would provide a more effective way to keep athletes safe during games and practice, and I think it's something every lawmaker, teacher and parent should support."
An interview with Neuman on his concussion legislation is available on his website, www.pahouse.com/Neuman, under the video tab.
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