Concussion Protocol & Sudden Cardiac Arrest (SCA)

Concussion Management Protocol | Dominic Murray Sudden Cardiac Arrest Prevention Act

Concussion Management Protocol

A concussion is a type of traumatic brain injury that changes the way the brain normally works. A concussion is caused by bump, blow, or jolt to the head or body that causes the head and brain to move rapidly back and forth. Even a “ding,” getting your bell rung,” or what seems to be a mild bump or blow to the head can be serious.

Return to Play

Return to play following a concussion involves a stepwise progression once the individual is symptom free. There are many risks to premature return to play including: a greater risk for a second concussion because of a lower concussion threshold, second impact syndrome (abnormal brain blood flow that can result in death), exacerbation of any current symptoms, and possibly increased risk for additional injury due to alteration in balance. These NYSPHSAA current return to play recommendations are based on the most recent international expert opinion.

No student athlete should return to play while symptomatic. Students are prohibited from returning to play the day the concussion is sustained. If there is any doubt as to whether a student has sustained a concussion, it should be treated as a concussion. Once the student athlete is symptom free at rest for 24 hours and has a signed release by the treating clinician, she/he may begin the return to play progression below (provided there are no other mitigating circumstances).

Day 1: Light aerobic activity
Day 2: Sport-specific activity
Day 3: Non-contact training drills
Day 4: Full contact practice
Day 5: Return to play

Each step should take 24 hours so that an athlete would take approximately one week to proceed through the full rehabilitation protocol once they are asymptomatic at rest and with provocative exercise. If any post concussion symptoms occur while in the stepwise program, then the student should drop back to the previous asymptomatic level and try to progress again after a further 24-hour period of rest has passed.

These NYSPHSAA return to play recommendations are based on the most recent international expert opinion.

View NYSED’s Guidelines for Concussion Management in Schools.

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Dominic Murray Sudden Cardiac Arrest Prevention Act

The Dominic Murray Sudden Cardiac Arrest Prevention Act is a new law as of July 1, 2022. It requires schools, students, and parents/guardians to be informed about sudden cardiac arrest risks, signs and symptoms.

The goal of the Sudden Cardiac Arrest (SCA) Prevention Act is to promote safe interscholastic athletics and to prevent incidents of SCA in student-athletes.

The law requires districts to provide information to parents/guardians of student-athletes prior to the student’s participation in any interscholastic athletics. The law also requires coaches to hold a valid certificate of completion of first aid training through a nationally recognized organization.

SCA is an emergency that happens when the heart suddenly stops working. SCA can cause death if not treated immediately. Immediate treatment is cardiopulmonary resuscitation (CPR) and use of an automatic external defibrillator (AED). SCA in students at risk can be triggered by athletic activities. All public schools must have a staff member trained in the use of CPR and AED in school and at all school athletic events.

Preventing SCA before it happens is the best way to save a life. Both your family health history and your child’s personal history must be told to healthcare providers to help identify if your child is at risk for SCA.

SCA in at-risk students can be triggered by athletic activities. To decrease any chance of SCA in a student, an Interval Health History for Athletics must be completed and signed by a parent/guardian before each sports season unless a physical examination has been conducted within 30 days before the start of the season. This form has questions to help identify changes since the last physical examination or health history was completed. School personnel may require a student with health or history changes to see a healthcare provider before participating in athletics.

The law also requires any student who has signs and symptoms of pending SCA to be removed from athletic activity until seen by a physician. The physician must provide written clearance to the school for the student to be able to return to athletics.

Learn more about Sudden Cardiac Arrest (SCA) in Youth (via NYSDOH)

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