A family in Valparaiso, Indiana, plans to sue Valparaiso Community Schools, alleging the district failed to properly respond after their freshman son at Valparaiso High School was injured during football practice.
Medical records provided by the family show the student sustained a broken right wrist and a concussion, which they say has resulted in balance and vision problems.
The student's father, Jason Solomon, states that his son broke his wrist and hit his head on the fieldhouse floor during a football drill, and that the head injury was later diagnosed as a concussion at the emergency room.
Solomon says he was not notified by the school the night of the injury and only became aware something was wrong when his son texted that he did not feel well. When Solomon arrived, he found his son alone in a gym after searching the school because coaches and training staff did not know the boy's location.
Solomon further states that when he confronted coaches, he was told the injury was just a sprained wrist and no one mentioned a possible head injury.
Valparaiso Community Schools Superintendent Jim McCall issued a written statement disputing several of the father's assertions, saying the district takes student health and safety seriously and that administrators have been in contact with the family regarding the student's return to school and educational options.
McCall stated that no one reported or observed an injury during practice, that the coach learned of the situation only after practice ended, and that the coach then immediately contacted the on-site athletic trainer.
According to McCall, the father was advised at that time to obtain further medical evaluation as a precaution and the steps taken were consistent with district policies and safety protocols.
Source: https://www.fox32chicago.com/news/family-plans-lawsuit-against-valparaiso-school-district-over-football-injury
Commentary
In the above matter, one of the issues is that no adults knew of the injury.
Adults, including parents and coaches, should tell young athletes that every injury, especially to the head, must be shared with an adult immediately, no matter how minor it may seem in the moment.
A concussion is a brain injury caused by a bump, blow, or jolt to the head, or a hit to the body that makes the head move back and forth quickly, and even what looks like a small "ding" or light collision can cause one.
Young athletes who say they "don't feel right" after contact, feel dizzy or confused, have a headache, or notice trouble with balance, vision, or memory may be showing signs of concussion and need to stop playing and be evaluated.
Adults, especially coaches, should emphasize that hiding symptoms to stay in the game can make things much worse. Continuing to play with an unreported concussion increases the chance of a second impact before the brain has healed, which can lead to more severe symptoms, longer recovery, and, in rare cases, dangerous brain swelling known as second-impact syndrome.
