Sen. Michelle Benson seeks to protect young athletes from concussions
by T.W. Budig
ECM Capitol reporter
New Prague teenager Kayla Meyer brought a simple message to the Senate Education Committee today (Tuesday, April 12) on the topic of young athletes and concussions.
“When in doubt, sit them out,” said Meyer, a former hockey player who suffered two concussions and appeared on behalf of
New Prague teenager Kayla Meyer testified on behalf of legislation carried by Sen. Michelle Benson, R-Ham Lake, dealing with concussions in young atheletes. Meyer, seated next to Benson, suffered two concussions as a hockey player and suffered longterm debilitating affects. (Photo by T.W. Budig)
legislation carried by Sen. Michelle Benson, R-Ham Lake.
Benson’s bill would direct the Department of Education and the State High School League to craft a concussion awareness campaign, assemble training materials, and establish a strict treatment protocol — one involving complete rest, gradual increase in activities — in treating concussions in young athletes.
Benson noted some sports injuries such as broken ankles, sprained wrists, are oblivious and suggest obvious courses of action.
“Concussions, however, are different,” said Benson. “There’s isn’t necessarily pain as part of the feedback,” she said. “And so awareness takes the place of some that feedback,” said Benson.
For Meyer, two concussions have left her with a constant headache for 16 months, a low tolerance for noise, and lingering health issues resulting in her missing some 68 days of schools. “I don’t want what I’m going through to happen to any other athlete,” said Meyer.
Dr. Michael Bergeron, Director of Health and Safety for Youth Sports, Sanford Health, described concussions — an injury that can occur without bumping the head — as putting the brain into an energy crisis.
During this crisis, placing additional burdens on the brain can heighten the risk of long-term damage with a secondary injury capable of producing “catastrophic” results. “The younger brain is much more susceptible,” he said of suffering a concussion.
Dr. Mark Carlson, of Sanford Bemidji Clinic, described a concussion as an injury occurring on the cellular level — one that does not show up on X-rays, he explained. The best treatment is rest, “complete rest,” said Carlson, who professionally has treated young athletes suffering concussions.
There is no specific length of time to recover from a concussion — it varies from person to person, Carlson noted.
It is known that having a concussion makes have a second more likely, he said.
Symptoms of concussion includes headache, loss of consciousness, confusion, amnesia, vomiting, ringing in the ears, tiredness.
According to the Mayo Clinic, some concussion symptoms may be immediate whiles others may take hours or even days to appear.
According to bill supports, some 13 states have adopted legislation pertaining to concussions and young athletes.
Some 28 other states are considering such laws.
Some criticism of Benson’s bill, which was laid over for possible inclusion into a committee bill, was that it lacked an enforcement provision.
Questions concerning liability were also raised.
Benson views the bill as incorporating best practices in regard to recognizing the risks and dealing with the treatment of concussions in young athletes.
She indicated a willingness to further refine the legislation.
