Download Players, parents need to be more aware of potential

Players, parents need to be more aware of potential brain injuries
All eyes were on Trent Edwards last week when he went down, but concussions in
football usually go unnoticed in high school athletes.
The Penfield JV football team has had six so far this season. We talk with one
family who says parents, players and coaches need to be more aware of this
potentially devastating brain injury.
Teddy Appleton is a Trent Edwards fan. He says "I don't know if mine was as bad
but it made me remember."
Teddy "felt" for his football hero went he went out on the third play of Sunday’s game.
His dad Don reacted this way, "I looked at those eyes as they were putting him on the cart they looked familiar
to me."
Two weeks ago today the same thing happened to Teddy during practice for the Penfield JV football team.
Teddy is one of six kids on the team who has suffered a concussion this season. Don says, "The school district is
addressing this at the highest level and is taking this seriously."
Teddy was given a series of cognitive tests after his concussion as part of "ImPACT", a concussion screening tool.
Denny Fries has been spear heading Section Five's effort to implement this program. It’s in all Monroe County
schools.
Kids are given the test before their season starts, then if a concussion occurs the baseline can help doctors
determine how severe the concussion is.
Fries says, "This was a way to change the thinking of coaches and administrators but also parents that a
concussion isn't just a small injury but a brain injury."
Kids can take the test at school. ImPACT is also used in the NFL and NHL. The problem parents just aren't aware
of the impact program until after a concussion happens.
Sports like football, soccer, wrestling lacrosse and cheerleading can put kids at risk for a head injury.
That's why Teddy and his father are speaking up to let other families know. Don says, "To make sure they are
doing all they can do to make sure the procedures and processes are in place to minimize this injury."