Cole′s Story: CDC Heads Up! Concussion Training Saved My Life

CDC's Heads Up online coaches′ training teaches coaches how to recognize, respond to, and prevent concussions in sports. Make sure your child′s coach knows what to do if your child is at risk.

Typically, teen boys are not big on writing thank you notes. Imagine CDC′s surprise when it recently received a letter from Cole, a Memphis, TN, high school wrestler.

In November 2010, Cole sustained a concussion during wrestling practice. “Although, my doctor told me not to participate in sports until cleared, a week later I returned to wrestling practice without permission,” he shared.

Concussions are Serious Brain Injuries

• Most concussions occur without loss of consciousness.

• Children and teens are more likely to get a concussion, and take longer to recover, than adults.

• U.S. emergency departments treat an estimated 135,000 sports-and recreation-related traumatic brain injuries each year, including concussions, among children ages 5 to 18.

• Direct medical costs and costs such as lost productivity due to traumatic brain injury totaled an estimated $60 billion in the United States in 2000.

Cole appeared clumsy and stunned—symptoms of concussion

If people recognize and properly respond to concussions when they first occur, it helps prevent further injury or even death. However, not everyone recognizes the symptoms of a concussion.

Cole′s coach did. Early on in the practice, his coach noticed that he appeared clumsy and stunned, was answering questions slowly, and had trouble with his memory. His coach had learned about concussion symptoms after completing the CDC Injury Center′s Heads Up coaches training.

“He pulled me out of practice (and) then sent me to the school′s athletic trainer. The athletic trainer made an appointment for me to see a neurologist the next day. The neurologist believes this decision (to remove me from practice) saved my life,” Cole said.

CDC has created free tools for youth and high school sports coaches, parents, athletes, and health care professionals that provide important information on preventing, recognizing, and responding to a concussion.

“I wanted to say thank you to all of you at the CDC for your work to educate the public about concussions in sport,” he said.

Heads Up Concussion Training Saved Cole′s Life; Is it In Your Child′s School?

Cole′s high school encourages coaches to take CDC′s “Heads Up” Concussions in Youth Sports online coaches′ training and it has concussion awareness posters posted in many of the locker rooms. “My coach learned to recognize the symptoms of a concussion from these CDC materials,” added Cole. “I am grateful for these posters and trainings now.”

CDC′s Heads Up online coaches training teaches coaches how to recognize, respond to, and prevent concussions in sports. Cole reports, “Several months have passed, and I am (still) recovering. I will probably never be able to wrestle again because I wanted to get back to practice (too soon). (I feel that) I am still here today because of the efforts of the CDC.” Now that′s a thank you note that goes in the scrapbook.