Australia follow UK and NZ by introducing 3-week stand down for community rugby concussion
This article is from www.9news.com.au
Children playing community sport down under will spend three weeks on the sidelines after suffering a concussion under new guidelines released today by the Australian Institute of Sport (AIS).
The updated Youth and Community Sport Guidelines bring Australia's approach to concussion in kids' sport into line with that of New Zealand and the UK amid growing concerns about the impact of head injuries.
They state children and adults playing community sport should face a mandatory three-weak break if they suffer a concussion, and should be symptom-free for at least two weeks before making their return.
The document also calls for clubs and schools to appoint concussion officers to manage the issue – not to provide medical diagnoses, but to instead ensure head injury protocols are followed.
The AIS said the new stand-down periods are longer than those required by professional sporting bodies due to the comparative lack of access to medical care in schools and clubs, as well as the greater care required for young people whose brains are still developing.
"It's important to manage all instances of concussion with an abundance of caution," AIS chief medical officer Dr David Hughes said.
"A conservative management approach is needed for people aged under 19 who have growing brains and are at risk of prolonged recovery times, as well as for community sport where advanced health care support is often not available."
“It's important to manage all instances of concussion with an abundance of caution.