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JJIF - Management of Concussions and Other Head Injuries

JJIF - MANAGEMENT OF CONCUSSION AND OTHER HEAD INJURIES

The Board recognizes that concussions and other head injuries are serious and could result in significant brain damage and/or death if not recognized and managed properly. The Board further acknowledges that a student may suffer a concussion during any activity during the school day or outside of school. The Board adopts this policy to promote the safety of all MSAD35 students, regardless of where or when the head injury occurred, in MSAD 35 schools, PreK-grade 12.occurred.

DEFINITIONSCONCUSSION 

The following definitions shall apply for the purpose of this policy.

Concussion:  A concussion is a traumatic brain injury caused by a bump, blow, or jolt to the head that can change the way the brain normally works. Concussions can occur from a fall or a blow to the head or body that causes the head and brain to quickly move back and forth. Some causes of concussion may include, but are not limited to, motor vehicle accidents, slips and falls, bumps to the head, and sports collisions.

ConcussionCONCUSSION ManagementMANAGEMENT Team:TEAM (CMT)

A

The Superintendent will appoint a Concussion Management Team (CMT), appointed by the superintendent or head of school, may include, but is not limited to thebe following:responsible for school administrator, school nurse, athletic administrator, school counselor, and school physician. The Team shall oversee the implementation, graduated school reentry protocols, and makemaking recommendations related to implementation and review of this policy.policy Thisand teamrelated mayprotocol. beThe combinedCMT withwill another existing student support team withininclude the school or school administrative unit.

Graduated school reentry:  Graduated school reentry is a gradualnurse and coordinatedathletic returnadministrator toand schoolmay activitiesinclude following a concussion. It is an individualized, flexible plan developed by the Concussion Management Teamone or designeemore withprincipals input from the student, parents, and medical provider.

Medical clearance:  Medical clearance includes a written statement from a health care provider licensed to diagnose a concussion, who is trained in the treatment and management of concussions, which allows a student to start the school’s graduated school reentry plan and/or graduatedassistant return to play protocol.

School:  School means any public school and any private school enrolling more than 60% of its students at public expense in the State of Maine.

School personnel:  School personnel include any persons working within and on behalf ofprincipals, the school inphysician, aand supervisory role to students during school sponsored activities including volunteers in a student supervisory role, such as athletic coaches.

TRAINING

Prior to the beginning of each sports season, athletics-relatedother school personnel (includingor volunteers)consultants identified byas the schoolSuperintendent unit’sdeems Concussionappropriate. ManagementThe Team mustshall beoversee madeand aware ofimplement this policy and protocols related toprotocol for concussive head injuries based on the managementcurrently ofaccepted concussivebest injuriespractices and must participate in concussion awareness training that includes recognizing signs and symptoms that may suggest a concussive or other head injury and include instruction in the use of graduated school reentry protocols. This training must be consistent with protocols as identified or developed by the Maine Department of EducationEducation. (DOE).The CMT, under the direction of the Superintendent, shall identify the school personnel who shall be trained in concussion signs and symptoms and the school activities covered by this policy. 

PriorCONCUSSION toAWARENESS TRAINING

Annual Concussion Awareness Training shall be provided annually, consistent with protocols identified or developed by the beginningMaine Department of eachEducation.As identified by the CMT, all extra-curricular and athletics-related school year,personnel (including coaches and volunteers) and non-athletics related school personnel (for example, physical education teachers, school nurses, and personnel with recess duty) identified by the school unit’s CMT, must be made aware of this schoolthe policy and protocolsprotocol related to the management of concussive injuriesinjuries. andPrior mustto the beginning of each school year, said personnel shall also participate in concussion awareness training that includesincludes:

recognizing

  1. Recognizing signs and symptoms that may suggest a concussiveconcussion.

    or
    2. other
  2. head

    Instruction injury.in Thisthe graduated school and activity and re-entry protocols. 

Any new personnel in these positions shall complete this training mustprior be consistent with protocols as identified or developed byto the Maine Departmentstart of Educationtheir (DOE).tenure. 

STUDENT AND PARENTS/GUARDIANS

Prior to participating in any school athletic activity, all students and their parent(s)/guardian(s) will be provided information including:

  1. A. The risk of concussion and other head injuries and the dangers associated with continuing to participate when a concussion or other head injury is suspected;

  2. B. The signs, symptoms and behaviors associated with concussion and other head injuries; and

  3. C. The school administrative unit’s protocols for 1) notification of potential concussion or other head injury to parent, 2) removal of the student from the activity when the student is suspected of having sustained a concussion or other head injury, 2)3) evaluation, 3)4) referral and medical clearance, and 4)5) graduated school reentryand activity re-entry protocols.

The student and his/hertheir parent(s)/guardian(s) must sign a statement acknowledging that they receivedreceived, read and readagree to this informationpolicy and related  protocols before the student is allowed to participate in any school athletic activity. 

Because of the heightened competitive nature of interscholastic athletic activities at the high school level, there is a greater risk of concussion and other head injuries. Therefore, all students wishing to participate in these activities at the high school level (grades 9-12) must have an up to date and valid baseline cognitive assessment test on record with the school in order to be eligible to participate.

If a student suffers a concussion outside of the instructional day and/or school-sponsored athletics or activities, the student and/or parent must notify school staff immediately of the injury: 

For students in
grades 9-12, notification should be made to the Athletic Trainer or School Nurse.

For students in grades PK-8, notification should be made to the respective School Nurse. 

MANAGEMENT OF CONCUSSIVE AND OTHER HEAD INJURIES

It is the responsibility of all school personnel trained in the signs, symptoms and behaviors related to concussion or other head injury, to act in accordance with this policy when that personindividual recognizes that a student may be exhibiting such signs, symptoms and/or behaviors.behaviors consistent with a concussion.    

  • Any student suspected of having sustained a concussion or other head injury during school or a school athletic activity mustshall be immediately removed from theparticipation. activity immediately and evaluated by a qualified school personnel.

  • AnySchool student suspected of having sustained a concussion or other head injury is prohibited from further participation in any school activities until he/she is evaluated by the school nurse or other schoolhealth personnel trained in suchconcussion evaluation,recognition suchwill asassess anthe athleticstudent trainer who is able toand determine if referral to a licensedhigher healthlevel of care provider is necessary.needed.

    • TheIf a referral is necessary, the student and his/herthe parent(s)/guardian(s) will be informed of the referral to a licensed health carehealthcare provider for a full medical evaluation for possible

  • Medical Clearance:

    • If referral to a licensed  healthcare provider was made, and no signs of concussion orare brainpresent, injury before the student iswill allowedrequire towritten beginmedical clearance from the graduated schoolhealthcare reentry and/or graduated return to play protocol, and then full participationprofessional in learning, recess, physical education, and any school activities.

    • No student is permittedorder to return to the activity or to participate in any other school activityand onactivities. the day of the suspected concussion.

    • If referral to a licensed health carehealthcare provider is necessary,made and the student willreceives requirea writtendiagnosis of concussion, the medical clearance fromnote ashall licensedbe healthinterpreted careas providerclearance qualifiedto start the graduated school and trainedactivity inreentry concussionprotocols.

      management.

    • The student is alsothen required to complete the graduated return to school protocol.and activity protocols as determined by the CMT.

  • SchoolA member of the CMT will notify the relevant educational school personnel shouldof bepossible alertsymptoms, toincluding cognitive andand/or academic issues that may be experienced by a student who has suffered a concussionconcussion. orThis other head injury includingincludes but is not limited to: to, difficulty with concentration, organization, long-and-short term memory, and sensitivity to bright lights and sounds. 

  • School personnel shall accommodate athe graduated schoolreturn-to-learn reentry protocol for return to full participation in all academic activitiesprotocols as appropriate, based on the recommendation of the student’s concussion trained health care provider and appropriate designated school personnel (e.g.such as the 504 Coordinator,Coordinator or school nurse).nurse.

  • No student is permitted to return to full participation in extra-curricular school activities (e.g., competition, games, performances) until they have fully returned to his/hertheir academic program.

    program
    • and
  • have

    If at any time duringcompleted the gradualgraduated return to school processand activity protocols. Each phase in the student exhibits signs, symptoms or behaviorsprogression of concussion,this protocol takes at least 24 hours. Return to learn and return to extra-curricular school activities may occur at the studentsame must be removed from the activity for that day and follow the graduated school reentry protocol.time.

MEDICALCOLLECTION CLEARANCE

AND

OnceREPORTING aOF referral to a health care provider has been made by the school nurse, athletic trainer, or other health services personnel, the student must receive written clearance from a health care provider licensed to diagnose a concussion who is trained in the treatment and management of concussions. The medical clearance allows a student to begin the graduated school reentry protocol.

CONCUSSION MANAGEMENT TEAM (CMT)

The Superintendent will appoint a Concussion Management Team including a school administrator to be responsible, under the administrative supervision of the Superintendent, to make recommendations related to implementation and review of this policy. The Concussion Management Team will include the school nurse and athletic administrator and may include one or more principals or assistant principals, the school physician and other school personnel or consultants as the Superintendent deems appropriate. The Team shall oversee and implement this policy and related protocols for concussive head injuries based on the currently accepted best practices. The Team, under the direction of the superintendent, shall identify the school personnel who shall be trained in concussion signs and symptoms and the school activities covered by this policy.

DATA

The Board recognizes howthe seriousseriousness concussionsof areconcussive injuries and the need for improved understanding of concussions in our schools and their impact on learning and school attendance. The school unit will track the numberincidences of concussions, activity associated with the injury, number of school days missed, and other information determined necessary by the Concussion Management Team. The CMT will review this data and make recommendations to the Board as needed.


20-A MRSA§254(17)

Cross Reference:

JJIF-RE - ManagementMarshwood ofConcussion Concussions and Other Head Injuries ProceduresProtocol

 

Policy Adopted: February 27, 2013

Policy Revised: April 10, 20242024; June 18, 2025

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