Like many kids, Jamie learned the hard way that a serious head injury

& L K G B O & ||

coach immediately.

As You Read, Think About:Why is it important to speak up if you think you have a concussion?

JamiePealer didn’t see the ball coming. In September 2018, she

was racing up the field during a soccer game. Her teammate kicked the ball, and it accidentally smacked Jamie on the side of the head.

“I had an immediate headache and a really weird feeling in my head,” says Jamie, who’s now 15.But she didn’t think much of it and kept playing.

After a couple of days, Jamie’s head was still pounding. Her doctor told her that she had susta ined a head injury known as a concussion The hit to her head had caused Jamie’s brain to shake inside her skull. Bright light and loud noise made her headaches worse. She couldn’t

W O R D S T O K N O Wsustained verb, past tense, suffered or experienced something unpleasant, such as an injuryadvocate noun, a person who supports or looks out for someone

concentrate. She missed two weeks of school and nearly three months of soccer.

Jamie’s injury was serious—and unfortunately, it’s pretty common. Each

year, about half a million kids age 14 and under get a concussion in the U.S. Experts warn that these head injuries can happen to anyone, not just athletes, so it’s important to understand what

concussions are and how to spot them.

C o n c u s s io n C o n c e rn sMany people think concussions are a

problem only in football or other full-contact sports. But a 2017 study showed that girls who play soccer are more likely to suffer a concussion than boys who play football. And every year, tens of thousands of kids suffer concussions doing everyday activities, such as riding a bike, playing on a playground, or just walking down stairs.

You don’t even need to hit your head to get a concussion, explains Christina Master. She is a doctor who specializes in concussions in children. Any hard blow to the body that jolts your head can cause one.

S p e a k u p ! I wish I hadn’t kept playing after my first concussion. Never „ . .Help!ignore a hit to your head—even if you think you’re fine. Tell a parent or

D o n ’t t r y t o t o u g h i t

o u t . No one wants to let down their teammates. But trying to show you’re

tough by playing through the pain will only hurtyou more in the end.

B e p a t ie n t . Healing after a concussion can be slow and frustrating. But trust me: Life can be much worse if you come back to play before you’re fully recovered.

4 SCHOLASTIC NEWS EDITION 5 /6 • October 21, 2019

GO"ONLINE!See how a

concussion affects your ̂ brain, a

can happen to anyone at any time.A n Inv is ib le In ju ry

So how do you know if you have a concussion? It’s not always easy to tell. You can’t “see” a concussion like you can see bruises or cuts. Sometimes, symptoms are so mild that even trained coaches, teachers, or parents may not spot them. That’s why it’s important for kids to know the warning signs {see “Watch Your Head!’’) and speak up.

“Parents and doctors rely on you to report your symptoms to us,” says Master. “You have to be your own a d v o c a te .”

Most young people who get a concussion will be fine with proper treatment, Master says. But your brain needs time to fully heal. Returning to play too soon puts you at greater risk of another concussion.

R etu rn in g to N orm alJamie understands that risk firsthand.

She returned to the soccer field in January. But at her first practice, she took a ball to the head again—and got another concussion. This time, her symptoms were even worse.

Jamie couldn’t focus in school, so she spent the rest of the semester doing her schoolwork at home. And she had to quit soccer entirely.

Nine months later, Jamie is back in school full-time. She still has headaches and some issues with balance. She’s not sure if she’ll ever lace up her soccer cleats again. But she’s just glad to be getting better.

“It was really hard,” Jamie says. “But if you’re going through it, I promise there’s a light at the end of the tunnel. And it’s a really good feeling when you get there.”

—by Jennifer Li Shotz

m m

Watch Your Head!T h e s y m p to m s o f a concu ssion d o n ’t a lw ays show

up r ig h t aw ay. H e re a re so m e signs to w a tc h for.

S H eadache

✓ C onfusion

s Forgetfu lness

✓ D izziness or tro u b le keep in g your balance

Source: C en ters fo r D isease C ontro l a nd Preventio n

Nausea o r vo m itin g✓

✓ B lurry or do u b le vision

V Feeling drow sy

Y Being b o th e re d by lig h t o r noise

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