Testing Helps Keep Laguna Beach High Athletes Conscious About Concussions

Submitted by the Laguna Beach Unified School District:

Keeping students safe and educated about their health is an ongoing focus at Laguna Beach High School. This fall, students participating in dance, cheerleading and other fall sports were encouraged to take the Immediate Post-Concussion Assessment and Cognitive Testing (ImPACT.) ImPACT is a comprehensive program that is a widely utilized and a scientifically validated computerized concussion evaluation system.

Students who participate in winter and spring sports and have not yet taken the test this fall will have the opportunity to take it the first week of their sports season.

The computerized test takes about 30 minutes for each student participant to complete individually. LBHS Certified Athletic Trainer Ron Holaday and LBUSD Nurse Pam Majd are both trained to administer the ImPACT assessments. The test provides each student his or her individual baseline data, which is kept on file for the duration of the student’s enrollment at the high school. These results are one important component of the overall concussion evaluation and management process for further review by a physician should the need arise.

Laguna Beach High School Principal Joanne Culverhouse remarks, “The safety of our students is the primary focus for all of our sports including dance and cheerleading. I appreciate the support of Kathy Smith Coakley from COASTherapy and the collaboration with local doctors and our Athletic Trainer and District Nurse.”

LBHS Athletic Director Mike Churchill continues, “The concussion baseline testing that we are doing with all of our athletes will assist medical personnel determine if injury has occurred and to what degree. This testing and the medical follow-up is necessary in order to make valid decisions regarding the welfare of our Laguna Beach High School students.”

More information about ImPACT is available at http://www.impacttest.com.