Rep. Hooker, Detroit Lions’ President Tom Lewand, Gov. Snyder and Senator Proos. (Photo courtesy of BIAMI)
The Michigan legislature took another step towards protecting young people in athletics. Last week the House Health Policy Committee unanimously approved legislation aimed at raising concussion awareness through education and physician involvement. Earlier today, the bill was read on the House floor and again approved unanimously.
The concussion awareness legislation specifically provides for the following:
1.) Concussion awareness online training that includes the nature and risk of concussions, criteria for the removal of an athlete from physical participation in an athletic activity due to a suspected concussion and his or her return to that athletic activity;
2.) The risks to an athlete of not reporting a suspected concussion and continuing to physically participate in the athletic activity;
3.) The definition of a concussion or traumatic brain injury as follows:
“Concussion” means a type of traumatic brain injury asrecognized by the centers for disease control and prevention. A concussion may cause a change in a person’s mental status at the time of the injury, including, but not limited to, feeling dazed, disoriented, or confused, and may or may not involve a loss of consciousness. A concussion may be caused by any type of accident or injury including, but not limited to, the following: A fall, a blow, bump, or jolt to the head or body, the shaking or spinning of the head or body, and the acceleration and deceleration of the head.There are 21 states with similar laws already enacted and another dozen pending, including Michigan. Along with Oakwood Healthcare, other entities that support such legislation include Wayne State University, the Brain Injury Association of Michigan, MHSAA, Michigan Athletic Trainers Society and the Detroit Lions.
