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Head Injury Signs and Symptoms
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If your child sustains a head injury at school, you will be notified. You may have to pick up your child and have him/her evaluated by your health care provider or at the emergency room. Here are some of the symptoms that may indicate a need for further evaluation:
- Headache
- Drowsiness
- Nausea and / or vomiting
- Trouble with vision: double vision, blurred vision, unequal pupils
- Weakness or numbness of arms or legs, falling down or trouble with walking
- Unusual behavior or being confused, dizziness or irregular breathing
Once your child is evaluated by an outside health care provider, the school health office will need a note from that provider indicating:
- If the student can return to school
- Diagnosis and severity of the injury
- Any restrictions or modifications that are needed for the school day.
- If the student is removed from Physical Education for more than 5 school days, a second MD evaluation will be required to begin the return-to-play procedure.
Students who sustain a head injury in school that are referred for additional evaluation will be excluded from physical education, recess, and sports until clearance is received from a physician.
By law, if the school learns of a head injury that occurred outside of school, we are obligated to follow up and follow the same procedures as if the injury occurred in school.
There is a return-to-play procedure in place as required by NYS law that every student will have to follow post-head injury. This procedure will take a minimum of 5 days to complete.
Most head injuries will require a minimum of 2 doctor visits before a student will be cleared to begin the return-to-play process.