The State Board of Education would be required to develop guidelines for local school districts to deal with concussions in student athletes, under a bill that will be introduced in Virginia Senate today.
Senate Bill 652, sponsored by Sen. Ralph S. Northam, D-Norfolk, would require each school division to "develop policies and procedures regarding the identification and handling of suspected concussions" in student athletes.
The legislation comes on the heels of some high-profile professional athletes being sidelined with serious head injuries that threaten to end their careers.
Philadelphia Eagles running back Brian Westbrook missed nearly half the season as a result of injuries suffered by blows to his helmet. Arizona quarterback Kurt Warner, also sidelined by concussions earlier this season, has said that repeated head injuries may force him into retirement from professional football.
"Athletes today are faster and stronger and despite good equipment, we're seeing more and more concussions in junior high school and high school students," said Northam, a practicing physician with a specialty in pediatric neurology.
"The big danger in concussions is returning to play before they resolve," he added, noting that coaches, parents and athletes need to be better informed on how to identify or respond to the injuries.
Northam's bill would require that every local school division provide student athletes with information on the short-term and long-term health effects of concussions.
Athletes would be required to sign a statement acknowledging they've read the material. The bill also stipulates that a student-athlete suspected of sustaining a concussion must leave the playing field and cannot return until having been evaluated by a trained health-care provider and given written clearance to return to action.
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