A Possible Concussion Event is Recognized but No Sign(s) and/or Symptom(s) are Identified

Please note that concussion sign(s) and/or symptom(s) can occur hours to days later.

If a teacher/coach recognizes that a suspected concussion event occurred (due to the jarring impact) but no concussion sign(s) and/or symptom(s) were observed or reported and the student correctly answers all the Quick Memory Function Check, the Teacher/Coach Response must be followed.

In addition, the steps in Responsibilities of the School Principal/Designate must be taken and the information identified in Information/Tools for Parents/Guardians must be communicated to parents/guardians.

• Contact the student’s parents/guardians (or emergency contact) to inform them of the incident and provided them with a tool to identify a suspected concussion and a medical concussion assessment form;
• Monitor the student for delayed sign(s) and/or symptom(s). If any sign(s) and/or symptom(s) emerge (observed or reported) during the school day, inform the parents/guardians that the student needs an urgent medical assessment as soon as possible that same day.
• The student must not return to physical activity for 24 hours as signs and/or symptoms can take hours or days to emerge. If the student has not shown/reported any signs and/or symptoms following a 24 hours observation period they may resume physical activity without medical clearance.
  

• A tool to identify a suspected concussion;
• A medical concussion assessment form;
• The student can attend school but cannot participate in any physical activity for a minimum of 24 hours;
• The student will be monitored (at school and home) for the emergence of sign(s) and/or symptom(s) for 24 hours following the incident;
• Continued monitoring by parents/guardians (beyond 24 hours) may be necessary as signs and/or symptoms may take hours or days to emerge; and
• parents/guardians must communicate the results of the continued monitoring to principal/designate as per school board policy:
  • If any sign(s) and/or symptom(s) emerge (observed or reported), the student needs an urgent medical assessment as soon as possible that same day by a medical doctor or nurse practitioner. Consult the Sample Medical Concussion Assessment Form.
  • If after 24 hours of observation sign(s) and/or symptom(s) do not emerge, the student may return to physical activity. Medical clearance is not required.
    

The school principal/designate must inform all school staff (for example, classroom teachers, physical education teachers, intramural supervisors, coaches) and volunteers (prior to communicating with volunteers consult the school board protocol for sharing of student information) who work with the student of the following:

• The student is allowed to attend school.
• The student must not participate in physical activity and must be monitored by teacher(s) and parents/guardians for 24 hours for the emergence of delayed sign(s) and/or symptom(s).
• The results of the continued monitoring by teachers:
  • If any sign(s) and/or symptom(s) emerge (observed or reported), the student needs an urgent medical assessment as soon as possible that same day by a medical doctor or nurse practitioner.
  • If after 24 hours of observation sign(s) and/or symptom(s) do not emerge, the student may return to physical activity. Medical clearance is not required.