Headache, confusion and balance problems? A student-athlete who has recently hit their head would experience all of these common concussion symptoms. Despite an increased awareness of symptoms and causes of concussions in student-athletes, reports of concussions are still on the rise. One student in Nevada is making a change in her school district to improve the care of student-athletes with concussions.
Stella Thornton is a member of the Nevada Youth Legislature and a graduate of Carson High School. She is the sponsor for Nevada’s Senate Bill 80, which was signed into law last year. Now, her home school board is taking action, using Thornton’s bill to ensure their student-athlete head injury policies are in line with SB80.
In a recent school board meeting, Andrew Feuling, Carson City Superintendent, Sheila Story, chief nurse and Adam Hunsaker, Carson High School’s athletic trainer, led the conversation. The Carson School District began their meeting with a reading of their new concussion policy. Then, they approved revisions to their policy. The group discussed the ‘Return to Learn’ program from the Nevada Department of Education too.
“It’s good to hear stories from the teachers and athletic trainers who have told me they’re
starting to see more kids in their offices that they never would have seen before,” Thornton said to the Nevada Appeal. Now, Thornton attends the University of Nevada, Reno and works with Dr. Nicholas Murray in the neuromechanics lab. Murray mentored her as she refined the bill and worked with legislators last year.
“It was a quite a learning experience,” Feuling, the superintendent, said. “You have this wonderful idea, and everyone with all these interests come after her. I know it was an intensive process for her, but ultimately her bill was passed.”
Thornton says she hopes students continue to receive the health care they deserve.
Her bill comes at a critical time for youth sports as student-athletes continue to suffer from concussions at an ever-increasing rate. In a recent study by the American Academy of Orthopaedic Surgeons, researchers found that there was an increase in concussions across all nine sports surveyed. Increased participation in school sports and increased awareness of head injuries could contribute to these statistics. The most significant increase was found in girl’s volleyball and soccer. Female athletes, overall, experienced concussions at a higher rate than male athletes.
“Of all my years of coaching youth sports, that’s always been one of the biggest concerns — especially with youth football and soccer — is the head injuries, so to see this thing get put into policy is huge,” said one of the school district’s trustees.
