Head Injury Protocol

Protocol for Suspected Head Injuries:

Background : Students who are suspected of having sustained a head injury in the school setting must be carefully evaluated by trained personnel in order to correctly identify those individuals who need immediate medical evaluation and to reduce the risk of further injury. The potential for head injury can occur any time a student’s head comes into contact with a hard object or when the student receives a blow or jolt to the head. Head injury may also occur from a blow to the body that causes the head and brain to move rapidly up and down or from side to side.

The Archdiocese of Baltimore has developed this protocol for school staff to follow in the event a student is suspected of having sustained a head injury. This protocol includes documents to aid in assessment and communication and resources for head injury awareness education and training for students, parents/guardians, and staff.

This protocol is intended for use by appropriately trained school personnel as defined below. To protect student privacy, the completed Suspected Head Injury Assessment Form andConcussion Signs and Symptoms Checklist are maintained as confidential education records.

This protocol is adapted from documents created by the U.S. Department of Health and Human Services Centers for Disease Control and Prevention.

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General Procedures

Procedure: sustained during the school day, on school grounds

Procedure: sustained outside of school or on campus previous day

Training and Educational Resources

Assessment Form

Concussion Signs & Symptoms Checklist