Despite efforts to better protect players against concussions, there needs to be more focus on educating Carleton students on the symptoms and dangers that come with concussions. Also called traumatic brain injuries, these injuries can often manifest themselves in the most unexpected situations. These types of injuries can also happen outside of sports, following a fall or a car crash. or other situations where the head receives a violent bump.
With around 6,000 people at Carleton taking part in on-campus team sports alone, there are many students at Carleton who are at risk of getting a concussion during their time at university. Although varsity athletes receive training on concussions, those participating in other sports activities on campus, do not receive the same risk-prevention training as their counterparts on varsity and club teams. As a result, students oftentimes go undiagnosed because they are unaware of the symptoms or future complications of concussions.
What makes concussions so dangerous is that symptoms are rarely noticed at the time of the injury, unlike a broken bone or cut. The damage is internal and hidden within the brain. A person who is misinformed about the symptoms and severity of concussions, could unintentionally make their injury worse.
The short-term symptoms that come with concussions can impact a student’s ability to focus and perform daily tasks, but it is those long-lasting impacts, such as mental health struggles that can develop after a concussion, which can be truly debilitating. Proper education about concussions will ensure that students are able to get early treatment, and avoid having this injury affect their quality of life after university.
