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SSA and HeadSmart Team Up

Published Mon 25 Jun 2018

Ski & Snowboard Australia has partnered with the HeadSmart to provide snowsport participants with simple and accessible concussion baseline screening.

Ski & Snowboard Australia is committed to protecting the health and well-being of everyone that participates in snowsports. It is for this reason SSA has teamed up with Headsmart an organisation that provides sports concussions solutions from the grassroot levels up to the elite athlete. Recognised as one of the world's leading sports concussion programmes, HeadSmart educates and baseline screens participants. This education and baseline screening is of the same standard and the same process that professional athletes complete. SSA has partnered with Headsmart to provide its members and athletes with discounted access to online baseline screening during their membership renewal process or via their SSA Membership Portal.

SSA highly recommends that all participants have baseline education and screening to ensure an accurate and safe post-concussion assessment, management and return to sport. The Headsmart baseline screening has been made available to all SSA members at the discounted price of only $15 per year.

For more information and to take the Baseline Screening follow the link below.

TAKE THE BASELINE SCREENING HERE

SSA Concussion Management Guidelines 

Further to the discounted online baseline screening for SSA Members, Si & Snowboard Australia have also updated and made amendments to the Concussion Policy to include the Concussion management guidelines. These guidelines are in accordance to the most recent and relevant information from the Consensus Statement on Concussion in Sport (SCAT5).

These guidelines apply to the care of snowsports participants from beginners and intermediates through to recreational experts and sub-elite or elite competitors. Everyone’s brain is equally important and deserves the benefit of concussion management according to current international scientific guidelines.

Additionally, the guideline allows for the Ski & Snowboard Australia community to access the same high standards of care that are available to full-time professional athletes. Our common goal is to achieve a successful return to sport, with full recovery and readiness for competition, minimising short-term risks and long-term health consequences.

It is written for the benefits of athletes, parents, teachers, coaches, peers, and any program directors or support staff.

SSA CONCUSSION POLICY

Background

The advice presented in the Ski and Snowboard Australia Concussion Policy is not a medical document but is a plain-language non-technical version of the Olympic Winter Institute of Australia (OWIA) Concussion Policy (version 2) updated July 2017.

All concussions are serious and may be caused by a direct blow to the head, face or neck, or by impact elsewhere on the body, with force transmitted to the head. It is a brain injury that can occur without a loss of consciousness that causes a disturbances of brain function with resolutions usually proceeding smoothly over days to weeks, but in some cases, symptoms are prolonged. 

Concussion management guidelines: Step-by-step

Step 1 – Ready

Prepare by wearing a helmet & getting pre-season baseline testing

Step 2 – Recognise

Apply first aid principles, recognise the clinical domains of concussion and use the Concussion Recognition Tool 5 (CRT5).

Step 3 – Remove

Anyone suspected of concussion must be removed from participation and not return play on the same day.

Step 4 – Rest & Recovery

Rest & limit light exercise until all symptoms have resolved, school has resumed and baseline tests are normal again.

Step 5 – Rehab: Return to Exercise & Sport

Medical clearance is needed to progress from GRTS stage 0 to 1 (light exercise, stage 3 to 4 (snow/ice) and stage 5 to 6 (unrestricted competition).

We encourage everyone to read the detailed concussion management steps outlined in the Ski & Snowboard Australia Concussion Policy.

Remember: If in doubt, sit them out.

 

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