Concussions in Youth Athletes - Mississippi

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Mississippi

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.

The text of SB 2271 as introduced and amended can be viewed online at:http://billstatus.ls.state.ms.us/2012/pdf/history/SB/SB2271.xml

The proposed legislation would require the governing body of each youth athletic activity to develop and enforce a concussion and head injury policy describing the nature and risk of concussion or traumatic head injury and the continuing participation in and the subsequent return to athletic competition after sustaining a concussion or traumatic brain injury. “Youth athletic activity” means an organized athletic activity where the majority of the participants are seven years of age or older and under 19 years of age and engage in organized athletic game or competition, practice preparation for an organized game or competition against another team, club or entity. Each coach and official must receive concussion educational material and a copy of the concussion and head injury policy annually. Prior to any youth athlete participation, a written copy of the concussion/head injury policy must be provided to and signed by a parent /guardian of the child. In the event that a youth athlete reports or exhibits any sign or symptom of a concussion or the coach or official is notified by a licensed health care provider that the youth athlete has exhibited or reported sign or symptom of a concussion, the youth athlete shall be removed from any game, competition or practice. A return to play must be cleared by a health care provider in accordance with the policies and procedures adopted by the governing body of the youth athletic activity. The proposed legislation defines “health care provider” as a licensed physician, licensed nurse practitioner, or licensed physician assistant. There is no liability for or a cause of action created against any school, its officers, or its employees, volunteers, organization or association fo which a school district is a member, a private or public school, a private club, a public recreation facility, or athletic league when the individual or entity has complied with the provisions of the proposed legislation. “Public Recreation Facility” is defined as a recreation facility owned or leased by the State of Mississippi or a political subdivision thereof.

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/