NFHS Concussion Awareness & Prevention 2 — Questions and Answers
Question 1: Which of the following best describes the primary mechanism of a concussion?
- A direct blow to the skull causing a skull fracture
- Biomechanical forces causing the brain to move within the skull (Correct answer)
- Bleeding between the skull and the dura mater
- A rupture of blood vessels on the brain's surface
Correct answer: Biomechanical forces causing the brain to move within the skull
A concussion results from biomechanical forces—linear or rotational—that cause the brain to accelerate and decelerate within the skull.
Question 2: Under NFHS guidelines, who holds primary responsibility for removing an athlete from play when a concussion is suspected?
- The team's athletic trainer only
- Any authorized school personnel including coaches and officials (Correct answer)
- Only a licensed physician on site
- The athlete themselves if they feel unwell
Correct answer: Any authorized school personnel including coaches and officials
NFHS policy empowers coaches, officials, athletic trainers, and other authorized school personnel to remove an athlete suspected of having a concussion.
Question 3: An athlete sustains a hit during a soccer game and reports feeling 'foggy.' She has no visible injury. What is the correct immediate action?
- Allow her to continue play while monitoring from the sideline
- Remove her from play and do not return her that day (Correct answer)
- Give her water and assess again in five minutes
- Have her lie down on the field until symptoms resolve
Correct answer: Remove her from play and do not return her that day
The 'when in doubt, sit it out' principle requires immediate removal and prohibits same-day return to play when a concussion is suspected.
Question 4: Which environmental factor is known to increase an athlete's risk of sustaining a concussion?
- Playing on natural grass instead of artificial turf
- Competing in high-altitude venues
- Engaging in contact or collision sports (Correct answer)
- Wearing lightweight uniforms that reduce padding
Correct answer: Engaging in contact or collision sports
Participation in contact and collision sports significantly elevates concussion risk due to frequent high-impact player-to-player interactions.
Question 5: A student-athlete had a concussion three weeks ago and has been cleared for full contact practice. A parent asks the coach if wearing a special 'concussion-proof' helmet will prevent future concussions. What is the most accurate response?
- Yes, certified helmets fully prevent concussions
- No helmet can prevent all concussions, but proper fit reduces injury risk (Correct answer)
- Only football helmets are designed with concussion prevention
- Helmets are irrelevant to concussion prevention
Correct answer: No helmet can prevent all concussions, but proper fit reduces injury risk
No helmet eliminates concussion risk; however, properly fitted, sport-appropriate helmets can help reduce the severity of impacts.
Question 6: Which of the following is NOT a recognized cognitive symptom of a concussion?
- Difficulty concentrating
- Feeling mentally 'slowed down'
- Memory problems
- Increased muscular strength (Correct answer)
Correct answer: Increased muscular strength
Increased muscular strength is not a concussion symptom; cognitive symptoms include difficulty concentrating, slowed thinking, and memory deficits.
Question 7: Why is a second concussion occurring before the first has fully healed especially dangerous?
- It causes permanent hearing loss
- It can trigger second-impact syndrome, risking fatal brain swelling (Correct answer)
- It always leads to skull fractures
- It reduces the effectiveness of future concussion treatments
Correct answer: It can trigger second-impact syndrome, risking fatal brain swelling
Second-impact syndrome occurs when a second concussion strikes before full recovery, potentially causing rapid, life-threatening cerebral swelling.
NFHS Concussion Awareness & Prevention 2
Which of the following best describes the primary mechanism of a concussion?