FOR ANTIGO TIMES

ANTIGO, WI. – It’s football season and sports injuries are a common safety concern for school-age athletes. And concussions, which affect tens of thousands of kids in the U.S. each year, are among the most serious. These brain injuries can be especially dangerous–even deadly–if a second concussion occurs before the first has enough time to heal.

Aspirus Langlade Hospital has been providing coverage at Antigo High School athletics for more than 25 years.  Sandi Robrecht, Athletic Trainer, attends more than 20 different sports throughout the school year including baseball, basketball, hockey, gymnastics and football.

This past two football seasons, Dr. Cody Nikolai is an orthopedic surgeon and has been on the sidelines with Sandi.  Dr. Nikolai explains, “Parents can take the lead in reducing the risk of concussions by verifying that your child’s school, league or district has a concussion policy. Athletes who sustain a concussion may not realize it or may insist they’re fine. So, it’s important to watch for signs and symptoms that may mean a concussion.”

Possible symptoms your child might report include:

Headache, Nausea or Vomiting, Balance or Vision problems, Sensitivity to light or noise, Dazed appearance, Confusion or forgetfulness, Clumsy movement, Slow response when asked questions.  Change in mood, behavior or personality.

If you think your child might have a concussion, get medical help. Doctors can evaluate your child and determine what the next steps should be. Emphasize to your child the importance of following the rules of the game and the coach’s rules for safety.  Make sure your child wears appropriate protective equipment. Helmets are a must for riding activities, such as cycling or skateboarding, or collision sports, such as football or ice hockey. They help reduce the risk of a serious brain injury or skull fracture. Be aware, however, that helmets are not designed to prevent concussions. That’s why your child needs to avoid hits to the head as much as possible.

Aspirus is a non-profit, community-directed health system based in Wausau, Wisconsin. Its 7,500 employees are focused on improving the health and well-being of people throughout Wisconsin and Upper Michigan.  Aspirus serves communities through four hospitals in Upper Michigan and four hospitals in Wisconsin, more than 50 clinics, home health and hospice care, pharmacies, critical care and air-medical transport, medical goods, nursing homes and a broad network of physicians. Aspirus was recognized by IBM Watson Health as a Top 15 Health System in its 2018 and 2019 annual study identifying the top-performing health systems in the country. For more information, visit aspirus.org.