From Little League baseball to pro hockey, sports of all levels hold the chance to sustain a serious injury. In the NFL, violent collisions have caused more frequent head and neck injuries, and they are only getting more common.

           High school coaches have an especially difficult time preventing head and neck injuries. Equipment problems, bad habits of the athletes and bad luck all account for injuries that high school athletes sustain. At Pikesville High School, coaches and trainers use a proactive, education based system to help cut down on head and neck injuries athletes sustain.

            “We also have an athletic trainer at the big sports events; wrestling matches, football and basketball games. As a school and staff, we’re very proactive,” Mr. Behrens, school nurse, said.

            In addition to its normal procedures to stop concussions, PHS may be part of a pilot program on concussions. This program would test the mental and physical state of athletes before and after the season. This can prevent the injury and get athletes who have been injured back on the field as quickly as possible.

            The coaching staffs of all teams take special care regarding head and neck injuries. These sorts of injuries can result in serious long-term complications, such as brain damage. John Mackey, a former tight end for the Baltimore Colts and President of the NFL Players’ Association, died recently. Mackey suffered dementia in his later years, and his wife donated his brain for study on concussions. Education and study prove vital to preventing concussions and other head injuries, but equally important is accepting that a head or neck injury may have occurred, and taking proper action.

            “First the thing to do is notify the coach. The coach then has to look at the symptoms, headaches, nausea fatigue, dizziness, if they see those there is the potential for a concussion, and action must be taken,” Mr. Behrens said.  “We are up for a pilot program. What they’re doing is taking baselines, an idea of mental and physical health before, to compare pre-injury and after injury states. It’ll get you back to play faster and hopefully prevent the injury in the first place.”

            Besides what the coaching staffs do to prevent injuries, students can do certain things to limit risk of injury. A proper diet, good sleeping habits and proper equipment all can help to prevent concussions beforehand.

            “The biggest thing students can do, eating a breakfast, a good lunch, a snack, good sleep, [proper] hydration. If your body and mind aren’t working right when you go for activity you’re more prone to injury,” Mr. Behrens said. “In the end, just be safe, do the right things so those injuries aren’t yours.”