Revista de Medicina Desportiva (English) January 2019 | Page 12

CONCUSSION RECOGNITION TOOL 5 ©
To help identify concussion in children, adolescents and adults
Supported by
RECOGNISE & REMOVE
Head impacts can be associated with serious and potentially fatal brain injuries. The Concussion Recognition Tool
5 (CRT5) is to be used for the identification of suspected concussion. It is not designed to diagnose concussion.
STEP 1: RED FLAGS — CALL AN AMBULANCE
If there is concern after an injury including whether ANY of the following signs are
observed or complaints are reported then the player should be safely and immediately
removed from play/game/activity. If no licensed healthcare professional is available,
call an ambulance for urgent medical assessment:
•
•
•
Neck pain or tenderness •
Double vision
•
Weakness or tingling/
burning in arms or legs •
Remember:
•
Severe or increasing
headache
Seizure or convulsion
Loss of consciousness
• In all cases, the basic principles
of first aid (danger, response,
airway, breathing, circulation)
should be followed.
• Assessment for a spinal
cord injury is critical.
•
•
Deteriorating
conscious state
Vomiting
Increasingly restless,
agitated or combative
• Do not attempt to move the player
(other than required for airway
support) unless trained to so do.
• Do not remove a helmet or
any other equipment unless
trained to do so safely.
If there are no Red Flags, identification of possible concussion should proceed to the following steps:
STEP 2: OBSERVABLE SIGNS
Visual clues that suggest possible concussion include:
• Lying motionless on
the playing surface
• Slow to get up after
a direct or indirect
hit to the head
• Disorientation or
confusion, or an inability
to respond appropriately
to questions • Balance, gait difficulties,
motor incoordination,
stumbling, slow
laboured movements
• Blank or vacant look • Facial injury after
head trauma
© Concussion in Sport Group 2017
BJSM Online First, published on April 26, 2017 as 10.1136/bjsports-2017-097508CRT5
10 january 2019 www.revdesportiva.pt