What happens if my child gets a knock to the head?

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Accepted Answer

The FA's concussion guidelines say: If in doubt, sit them out. Anyone with a suspected concussion must be removed straight away from the match or training and must not return to activity that day. Team-mates, coaches, referees and parents who suspect concussion should make sure the child is removed and supervised for the next 24 hours. Get urgent medical help (A&E, by ambulance if needed) for red flags such as loss of consciousness, a fit, repeated vomiting, worsening headache, increasing confusion or drowsiness, or severe neck pain. Even if symptoms settle, the child should be seen by a healthcare professional (NHS 111 or A&E where no one is pitch-side). Getting back to football Recovery follows a six-stage graduated return to play: 48 hours of relative rest, then light exercise, football-specific exercise, non-contact training, full contact training and finally matches. Stages 1-4 take at least 14 days, full contact training only starts once the child has been symptom-free for 14 days, and the earliest return to a match is day 21. If symptoms come back at any stage, drop back a stage.