Concussions in Youth Athletes - Mississippi
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Currently, Mississippi has no law regarding concussions; however, in the 2012 Session the Mississippi Senate introduced SB 2271, which passed the Mississippi Senate on March 13, 2012, was sent to the House and was referred to the Public Health & Human Services and Education Committes on March 19, 2012, where the bill died. HB 1100 and HB 1296 were introduced in the Mississippi House and both bills died in committee on March 6, 2012.
SB 2271 was introduced in April 2012 and died in committee.
Until such time as Mississippi 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/
