Head Injuries
School Nursing
When a student gets a head injury it is important to make sure they are okay and notify parents. Utah State Board of Education has developed a model head injury policy along with flowcharts and checklists.
All parents should be notified of a head injury no matter how hard because they can continue to develop for days after an injury.
LEA (Local Education Agency) Responsibilities (R277-614-4)
- Head Injury Policies: LEAs must adopt and enforce policies for traumatic head injuries in physical education and extracurricular activities.
- Immediate Removal: Students suspected of a concussion or traumatic head injury must be removed from participation in sports or physical education immediately.
- Medical Clearance: Students cannot return to activities without evaluation and a written clearance from a qualified health care provider.
- Parent Notification: Parents must be notified if a head injury occurs during school hours or school-sanctioned events.
- Annual Training: LEAs must provide training for agents on head injury prevention and response.
- Public Policy Posting: LEAs must post their traumatic head injury policies on their websites.
Student athletes suspected of a concussion or traumatic head injury
- Evaluation: A "qualified health care provider" must evaluate the student. This includes a physician (MD or DO), an advanced practice registered nurse, or a physician assistant.
- Clearance: The qualified health care provider must clear the student to resume participation in writing, which can be either:
- Full clearance to return to all activities.
- Clearance for a graduated return-to-play program.
- Best Practice: The Utah High School Activities Association (USHAA) recommends an athletic trainer or other responsible individual oversee the graduated return-to-play program. Ideally, this individual would provide final clearance for full activity, or, if unavailable, the student would require a second evaluation by a qualified health care provider.
Model Concussion and Head Injury Policy (USBE) 2021
Head injury flowchart (USBE) 2021
National resources:
HEADS UP- A comprehensive resource from the CDC offering tools, guidelines, and trainings on concussion prevention, recognition, response, and recovery for athletes, parents, coaches, schools, and healthcare providers.
School nurse trainings (Canvas)
Past webinars
Concussion Care in Schools (February 2019)
Student Head Injury Response Throughout the School Day (May 2021)