Concussion awareness measure advanced

Lawmakers gave first-round approval March 9 to a bill that would establish a state policy on concussions for child athletes.

LB260, introduced by Omaha Sen. Steve Lathrop, would adopt the Concussion Awareness Act, which would provide schools and organizations with information and training about concussions. Similar measures have been adopted in several other states, Lathrop said, and Nebraska should take steps to increase awareness.

Lathrop said the governor of Washington has reported decreased head injuries among student athletes since passage of that state’s concussion awareness law, resulting in less spending on emergency medical care and rehabilitation services.

“Passage of LB260 will hopefully have a similar effect in Nebraska,” he said.

Among other provisions, the bill would:

• make concussion and brain injury training available to coaches of all organized athletic teams involving school-aged children;
• provide concussion and brain injury information to athletes, parents and guardians prior to participation in practice or competition; and
• require that a child athlete who appears to have suffered a concussion or brain injury be removed from practice and competition until a licensed health care professional provides written clearance for his or her return.

The required information made available to athletes, parents and guardians would describe the risks, signs and symptoms of a concussion and actions to be taken in response to sustaining a concussion.

The bill also would require notification of a parent or guardian if a child is removed from an athletic activity due to suspected concussion or brain injury.

Fullerton Sen. Annette Dubas supported the bill, saying it would educate athletes and parents on the dangers of concussions. Dubas said she chose to remove her son from the high school football team for the season after he suffered a concussion on his 16th birthday. LB260 would support other parents in making difficult decisions to safeguard their child’s health, she said.

Following adoption of a technical Health and Human Services Committee amendment, the bill advanced to select file on a 33-0 vote.