Dist. 220 takes no chances with concussions

With more and more athletes suffering concussions on the field, the days of telling them to "toughen up and get back in there" are long gone.

On Tuesday, Barrington Area Unit District 220 school board members were briefed on how students in their district are treated after suffering a blow to the head and the battery of tests they must go through before being allowed back into the field of play.

Dr. Dan Di Iorio, Barrington High School's primary sports physician, said the school is now using a computer program called ImPACT to help determine when students are suffering from a concussion and when they should be allowed to return to play.

Di Iorio said that at the start of each sports season all athletes competing in a contact sport take a computerized test, which measures, among other things, the student's memory, visual and verbal capabilities and reaction time.

If the student suffers a blow to the head, Di Iorio said the athlete is given a number of tests on the sideline during the game to determine if there is a possible concussion. If a student has suffered a concussion, he or she is removed from the game and re-evaluated in 24 to 48 hours. The player is taken to an emergency room in serious situations.

When students are reassessed, Di Iorio said, they are able to again take the ImPACT test to compare their mental faculties. When their results are back where they were at the start of the season, they are allowed to resume athletic activities.

"Currently, it is very unscientific for when it is OK to return to play," Di Iorio said.

While football players have the greatest risk of concussions, Di Iorio said athletes in all contact sports, like soccer, wrestling, basketball, lacrosse and cheerleading, are susceptible.

"We have seen patients from all those (sports)," he said.

Di Iorio said during the fall sports season the school treats about two or three athletes for concussions each week.

School board President Brian Battle said he was glad Barrington was being cautious about letting student athletes who have suffered a head injury back on the field.

"I think there is a lack of awareness, that it is better to exercise caution (when it comes to concussions)," Battle said. "I think getting that message out is important."

For more information on the ImPACT test, visit impacttest.com.