Helmets Alert Davis High Coaches To Possible Concussions On Football Field
DAVIS (CBS13) - Davis High School is putting itself at the forefront of concussion awareness. Administrators have put together a multi-pronged program to keep student athletes as safe as possible.
Former NFL player and now Davis High defensive coach Jason Fisk knows the risk of concussions.
"It's really the repeated concussions that cause the problem," said Fisk.
Fisk is a parent-coach and is proud of the new concussion program at the high school. The program is not just for football, but all sports.
Athletes can voluntarily take neurocognitive baseline testing on the campus computer lab.
"In the event that they may be diagnosed with a concussion, they can take the test to their doctor and we know where their baseline is and when it's safe to return to play," said Athletic Director Jeff Lorenson.
Lorenson says if a concussed athlete still shows symptoms after taking the mandatory seven days off, the coaches will keep him off the sidelines until they are 100 percent.
The school district will soon hold a meeting for parents and athletes, where they will hear from a concussion expert.
"It's important to get the education to our parents, our community, our athletes; what a concussion is, what are some signs and symptoms, what are the protocols to return to play," said Lorenson.
The varsity football players are wearing new, top-of-the-line helmets this year. They have sensors which send an alert to a coach if a player is hit is especially hard.
"Sometimes kids get hit behind the play. You're watching the ball go this way, a kid gets hit behind the play, you have no idea that happened and now he's on the field. So it's a great chance for us to catch the hits that we don't see," said Ty Brown, defensive coordinator.
An alert doesn't mean the player necessarily has a concussion, but it does allow coaches, trainers and parents keep better monitor of players' health.
"As a father, certainly I want to keep my son safe. I want him to have the best equipment out there. I want to know that he's protected," said Fisk.
