The following guidance is intended to provide information on how to recognise sports concussion and on how this should be managed from the time of injury through to safe return to play. We have provided some resources below to help players, coaches and officials recognise and know what to do when there is a suspected concussion. For more in depth advice and guidance, please see the SportScotland concussion guidance.
CONCUSSION FACTS
- A concussion is a brain injury.
- All concussions are serious.
- A head injury can be fatal.
- Females are more susceptable to concussions and may take longer to recover.
- Most people with concussion recover fully with time.
- Most concussions occur without loss of consciousness (less than 10% being knocked out).
- All those suspected of sustaining a concussion should follow the below protocol and be assessed by an appropriate healthcare professional or by accessing NHS24 (dial 111) within 24 hours of the injury.
- Return to education/work takes priority over return to sport.
- Individuals with concussion should only return to competition having followed a graduated return to activity (education/work) and sport process
- All concussions should be managed individually, but there should be no return to competition (e.g BUCS/SSS games and events) before 21 days from injury.
- Anyone with symptoms persisting more than 28 days should seek support from a healthcare professional (e.g. their General Practitioner (GP)as they may benefit from a being referred to a specialist.
