NHS has major ImPACT to prevent concussions

By Joe Ragozzino
Sports editor
As another school year begins, high school teams are getting ready for their respective seasons, working hard to achieve their championship aspirations.
But lately, the issue of safety among athletes on the playing venue has been in the spotlight, particularly in contact sports.
Specifically, concussions have gained the attention of coaches, trainers, administrations and experts.
According to neuroscience researcher Mark Underwood, the effects of concussion can be confusion, temporary amnesia, headache, dizziness, ringing in the ears, nausea, slurred speech and fatigue.
In the long term, concussions can have serious consequences. The death of brain cells isn’t the result of the physical impact itself, but in the chemical changes in the neurons in the days, weeks, months and years after the impact, added Underwood.
Nutley, Bloomfield and West Orange are some of the high schools that have implemented a system called Immediate Post-Concussion Assessment and Cognitive Test, or ImPACT.
With ImPACT, each athlete has a base line test on record. When a head injury occurs, the base line score is compared to the post-concussion score to ascertain whether the athlete can return to compete.
NHS trainer Jamie Dickerson is vigilant in conducting ImPACT.
“We want to make sure we are watching the kids, if they have a headache, and she is right on top of that,” said NHS head football coach Steve DiGregorio. “We never want to put a kid in harm’s way. We are very aggressive in trying to deal with it and we are very concerned in allowing a kid to go back. It’s serious stuff.”
DiGregorio also said his players are wearing helmets that help prevent concussions.
“We are wearing very good helmets,” he said. “Every kid has a very safe piece of equipment. We try to do our best.”
A positive sign is that concussions are better diagnosed now, as compared to years past, said DiGregorio.
“Every one is much acutely aware, and deservedly so and that’s how it should be,” he said. “We have to keep the kids as safe as possible. It’s a high impact game.”