Concussions in Youth Athletes - Hawaii

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Hawaii

Currently, Hawaii has no law regarding concussions. A number of bills have been introduced, including HB 622. HB 622 passed the first reading and is in the Senate. However, the 2011 legislative session ended without activity on the youth concussion legislation introduced during the session, and the legislation was carried over to the 2012 regular legislative session. In 2012, the Hawaii Legislature introduced SB 2273 and companion bill SB 2538 (introduced on January 20, 2012 and reported out from Committee on March 21, 2012) along with HB 2315 (introduced on January 20, 2012 and referred to Health, Education and Finance Committees).

The text of HB 622 is available online at:

http://www.capitol.hawaii.gov/session2011/Bills/HB622_.HTM

Text of SB 2273, SB 2538 and HB 2315 are available online at:

http://www.capitol.hawaii.gov/measure_indiv.aspx?billtype=HB&billnumber=2273

http://www.capitol.hawaii.gov/measure_indiv.aspx?billtype=SB&billnumber=2538

http://www.capitol.hawaii.gov/measure_indiv.aspx?billtype=HB&billnumber=2315

HB 622 would require coaches to receive annual training to recognize concussion and/or head injury symptoms. It also requires that before participation in an athletic activity, the athlete and the parent or guardian must sign a statement acknowledging that they have received the educational materials. Further, the proposed law requires the immediate removal of a youth athlete who appears to have suffered a concussion from play or practice at the time of the suspected concussion and requires that a youth athlete who has been removed from play not participate in an athletic event earlier than the day after the incident and only after the athlete no longer exhibits any signs or symptoms consistent with concussion and receives a medical release from a health care professional.

HB 2315 would require the Education Department to develop a student athlete a traumatic brain injury prevention program in association with the Hawaii Athletic Trainers Association and the Hawaii High School Athletic Association to educate coaches, student Athletes and parents/guardians regarding the nature and risk of traumatic brain injury. The program would include training of coaches to learn about the recognition and timely treatment of traumatic brain injury, requires a traumatic brain injury information form to be distributed to each student athlete and return with a parents/ guardians signature, immediately removal of the student athlete from play upon suspicion of a traumatic brain injury, preclusion from play until the day after injury provided that symptoms and signs are no present and a written release from a physician, licensed neuropsychologist or other appropriately trained health care professional. The legislation defines key terms including “student athlete”.

HB 2273 and the companion bill would require the department of education and the Hawaii High School Athletic Association to develop a concussion program for students and student athletes 14-18 years old. The program is to include education of students, student athletes, parents, sport officials, school faculty and staff, school administrators regarding the signs and symptoms on a concussion , the nature and risk of concussion, the danger of continuing to play after a concussion, and action to be taken in the event someone is so affected. This legislation would also require an annual education session for coaches and athletic trainers regarding sign and symptoms of a concussion, mandatory removal of a student from athletic activity if signs and symptoms of concussion are exhibited, the need to evaluated by a physician and to obtain written clearance prior to returning to athletic activity, and the monitoring of the student’ s return to physical activity by the school’s certified athletic trainer. The legislation also defines “student athlete” and “concussion” among other terms.

Until such time as Hawaii enacts applicable legislation, LLB encourages its leagues, teams and youth sports programs to familiarize themselves with the information and resources provided by the Centers for Disease Control Prevention, available through their website: www.cdc.gov/Concussion

The Centers for Disease Control Prevention is helping to support states, leagues, and schools by developing educational resources in line with components in many of the return to play laws through the development of a FREE Heads Up program.

The Centers for Disease Control Prevention Heads Up initiative provides the following:

1. Online course for coaches and parents. In under 30 minutes coaches and parents can learn about identifying a suspected concussion and how to respond. After completing the training and quiz, coaches and parents can print out a certificate, making it easy to show their league or school they are ready for the season. Coaches online training can be accessed at: http://www.cdc.gov/concussion/HeadsUp/online_training.html

2. Parent/Athlete information sheet with signature lines that can be ordered or downloaded and distributed during registration or prior to the first practice.

3. Online course for health care professionals on concussion in sports diagnosis and return to school and play management. This one hour course provides an overview of what health care professionals need to know about concussion in sports and includes a free continuing education opportunity through the American College of Sports Medicine. Healthcare professionals’ online training can be accessed at http://preventingconcussions.org/