Op/Ed: Sport Concussion Law Deserves Praise

By Kevin Heaton
Physician,

New Hampshire Governor John Lynch signed SB 402 this morning at the State House enacting an important new piece of legislature involving concussions. The bill encourages high school athletic programs to develop concussion guidelines and to educate coaches, student-athletes as well as parents on the recognition and risks associated with concussions.

The bill also calls for the immediate removal of any student-athlete from play if a concussion is suspected.  The new law requires medical clearance and written authorization from a health care provider trained in the evaluation and management of concussions as well as parental written permission for return to play.

There are an estimated 300,000 sports related concussions in the United States every year and 15% of all high school sport injuries are concussions. New Hampshire joins 38 other states that have legislation directed at concussion education and safety. This bill is an important first step in raising concussion awareness and in keeping our student-athletes as safe as possible.

Unfortunately, the bill does not create policy for athletes younger than the high school level or those athletes that participate in recreational or community athletic leagues not governed by the NHIAA.  It is the hope of medical professionals and concussion experts throughout the state of New Hampshire, that the future of the law will be to include these other groups which are also equally vulnerable to concussion and head injury and their potentially life-changing effects.

We would like to thank the Brain Injury Association of New Hampshire and the NH Advisory Council on Sport Related Concussion for giving us the opportunity to attend today's bill signing ceremony.  At Access Sports Medicine & Orthopaedics, we have played an active role on the Advisory Council, a group of medical professionals from across the State of New Hampshire with the goal to educate and develop policy on the proper management of sport related concussions.

Kevin Heaton, DO is a Primary Care Sports Medicine physician at Access Sports Medicine & Orthopaedics.  He specializes in the non-operative treatment of musculokeletal pain and injuries and is the Director of the Sports Concussion Program at Access Sports Medicine.  For more information or to make an appointment call (603)775-7575 or visit www.accesssportsmed.com.