More and more, concussions are affecting the everyday lives of student athletes everywhere, including here at Baldwin. An estimated two-thirds of the 17,000 athletes who seek treatment at UPMC’s six concussion centers per year are between middle school and college age.
These concussions have a great effect on the students, both in sports and academics. These students experience major setbacks in school attendance, concentration, and learning efficiency. Nurse Carol Wehner said loud noises in the halls and cafeteria often bother these students.
Baldwin’s coaches are always on the lookout for concussions. This is good, since Wehner said that diagnosis of concussions can be difficult. After being evaluated by a doctor, injured Baldwin athletes usually are kept out of sports practice and games as well as gym class.
They also have a reduced workload until they return to full strength, but this often means they have a lot of catching up to do academically after their concussion has been cleared by a doctor.
As doctors and sports professionals continue to advance treatment and prevention of concussions, high schools will have to remain vigilant in updating how they deal with this serious medical condition.