Concussions in Youth Athletes - Kentucky

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Kentucky

Currently, Kentucky has no law regarding concussions; however, HB 281 was introduced on January 19, 2012 and on March 30, 2012 was delivered to the Governor and will become effective once approved by the Governor.

The text of the legislation can be viewed on line at: http://www.lrc.ky.gov/record/12rs/hb281.htm

The proposed legislation regarding concussions is part of a larger measure dealing with interscholastic athletics. It would require that every interscholastic coach attend a safety course regarding prevention of common injuries including concussions. The Kentucky Board of Education would be required to establish the specifics as outlined in the legislation with regard to the safety course (e.g. timeline for completion of course, providers for the course, establishment of minimum qualify score, course updates and revisions, end of course, examination). The presence of at least one person completing the course would mandated at every interscholastic athletic practice and competition and coaches would be required to receive annual concussion training. The Board would be required to develop and distribute guidelines and other materials to inform and educate student athletes and their parents and guardians. The law will require that a student athlete believed to have sustained a concussion by a interscholastic coach, school athletic personnel or a contest official during a competition or practice shall be removed from play at that time and not return until evaluated by a licensed health care provider who is competent in the evaluation and care of concussions and other brain injuries and a determination made as to whether or not a concussion has occurred. Under the Act, the State Board must also adopt rules governing interscholastic athletics requiring each school to develop a venue specific emergency action plan to deal with serious injuries and acute medical conditions in accordance with specifics set for the in the proposed legislation.

Until such time as Kentucky 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/