Most people know what a concussion is, but not everyone realizes the very serious side effects of this injury.
Talking Points:
- The human brain is made up of soft fatty tissue and when it experiences a sudden jolt, it shifts or bumps. This causes neurons to stretch or even tear with the impact, releasing toxins which can, in turn, kill other neurons.
- CTE (Chronic Traumatic Encephalopathy) is a real and dangerous byproduct of repeated concussions. It brings about anxiety, depression, memory loss, impulse control issues, and impaired judgment, just to name a few.
Discussion:
- Initial reactions to this topic? What jumped out at you?
- Have you ever had a concussion? How? What after-effects did you deal with?
- Why do athletes tend to hide or diminish the impact of concussions?
- If you are a coach, parent, or athlete, what steps can you take to protect athletes from concussions?
- How might a concussion affect your life? Give one example.
- How could you help someone who has or has had a concussion?
- Is there a step you need to take based on today’s topic?
