Concussion Management

Color Code Zone Protocols

Zone 1- NO School Red

Student /Athlete is to stay at home or at rest (infirmary/clinic). Student has the option of going home with family or guardian for full rest, or may stay in the infirmary/clinic for rest.

NO Homework

Cognitive Shut Down: This Includes: Academics, Social involvements and events, as well as the use of Technology (computers, cell phones, games, TV, etc.) –with the exception of contacting family or guardian.

NO Work at home or at school (no physical job or labor or physically active practices, games, weight training, running, ROTC, Marching drills, Parades, etc..).

NO Band or Chorus practices, no Physical Education, High Flight, or ROTC Drills.

No Flying, No Driving, No Athletics, No Band or Chorus, ROTC early flight or marching.

No Extracurricular activities ON or OFF campus: (meaning NO town leave, no scheduled on campus events, no field trips or off campus dinners).

This student has suffered a concussion and should currently be resting both cognitively and physically at home or in clinic. This student has been instructed by RMA Medical Staff to avoid all academic work and to avoid any symptom exacerbation. Upon their return to classes and activities, they may not have all the assignments up to date and also will probably need to reduce the pace or quantity of work for several days. We will update the students status as appropriate upon continued re assessment and evaluation of the student. Upon the students return to classes and activities, the student and teachers, coaches, instructors will need to discuss any missed work and upcoming assignments to develop a plan that encourages gradual completion of assignments as recovery progresses.

Zone 2- Partial Attendance Orange

Instructional Modifications

Limited/partial class attendance = Examples: student may only attend class for a half of day (morning or afternoon), or may only attend each class for 15 minutes. This will allow for student to start to get back into classes and gradually do each without getting overwhelmed or increasing symptoms. Or may adjust schedule by attending one day and not the next.

Rest breaks during class= student may need to put head down on desk and rest or leave class to go to clinic to rest if exertion is too much. Student may lay head on desk with eyes closed but actively listen to classroom instructions.

Limited class work/testing

“Clear Desk”= this means no written work for student auditory learning in classroom only, minimal reading more listening

Utilizing teacher notes or a peer taking notes for them.

Flying, Driving, Athletics, Band or Chorus, ROTC early flight or marching, Extracurricular activities ON or OFF campus: (meaning town leave, scheduled on campus events, field trips or off campus dinners) are limited participation as directed by the RMA Sports Medicine Team.

This student is under the care of the RMA medical staff. They may be attending partial school days and /or need to limit the amount of time in a particular class and will most likely not have completed some assignments. Students in this recovery zone may benefit from significant instructional modifications to limit the exacerbation of concussion symptoms.

Zone 3- Attend Full School Day

YellowPartial class attendance with instructional modifications = classroom participation as tolerated. Clear desktop or Desktop only. This means provide Smartboard notes in handout form to student. They should not have to look up then down, up then down. This can recreate symptoms created for those having vestibular/ ocular problems. So providing a handout of the board notes is very helpful for this student. They should be able to keep eyes on desk and listen. They will attend a full day of school, but not necessarily a full class day.

Limited workload- Mental and Physical rest within the classroom. The student may still need periods of eyes closed, head down, just listening. Need to have the option of not actively working but actively listening.

Emphasis on formative rather than summative assessments.

Develop and maintain a schedule for completing assignments.

Flying, Driving, Athletics, ROTC early flight are limited to participation as directed by the RMA Sports Medicine Team.

May Return to Band and Chorus, Marching, and ON CAMPUS events as long as symptoms allow (meaning no headaches, no sensitivity to light or sounds).

This student will be attempting to complete a full school day but may need to limit time attending any class that causes concussion symptoms to resurface and /or intensify. For some this may be math, for others classes with a lot of reading involved. This all can depend on the class content, time of day, and the method of instruction.

Zone 4- Attend Full School DayBlue

• Full class attendance with limited instructional modifications. The student should attend a full day of school and each class a full class.

• Increasing return to normal workload. Instructional modifications still in use, but to be determined by the teacher or instructor based on a case by case individual need.

• Should be increasing amounts of class work/testing including summative assessments.

• Actively working on completing missed assignments.

• Flying, Driving, Athletics, and ROTC early flight are limited participation as directed by the RMA Sports Medicine Team.

This student should be attending a full school day and be in attendance for and participating in the entire class period with minimal instructional modifications in place.

These modifications may be utilized to reduce any residual concussion symptoms and foster the most appropriate learning environment during the final stages of the student’s recovery. Please alert the RMA medical staff and the Academic Administrators if the student is not able to maintain classroom attendance due to concussion symptoms.

Zone 5- Full School Participation

GreenNo Instructional Modifications needed.

The Student Athlete May not return to athletic or physical participation of any kind until they are on Green, Zone 5. Meaning they must be able to accomplish all Academics without symptoms before it is safe for them to start physical participation of any kind.

May Return to Flying, Driving and Athletics, and ROTC morning flight - Once cleared by Medical Staff.

May resume normal daily activities, and off campus functions.

Credit To:The “Zone Concept” was designed by Fairfax Family Practice Comprehensive Concussion Center and is used in the Fairfax County Public Schools. This information was presented at the ImPACT Training Workshop 2014 by Jon Almquist, ATC, VATL Formerly of Fairfax County Public Schools, Former Athletic Training Program Administrator, Concussion Specialist Fairfax Family Practice Comprehensive Concussion Center , Fairfax, VA.