North Carolina Law Proposes Parents Decide When Concussed Kids Can Return

The House of Representatives in North Carolina will consider legislation that would allow a parent or healthcare provider to clear a student-athlete to return a game after potentially suffering a concussion.

Kelly Byrne of WNCT in Greenville, North Carolina, reported Feb. 20 that House Bill 116 would also stipulate anybody who takes part in school athletic activities completes training regarding concussions, cardiac arrest and heat-related illnesses.

"I don't want to bash anything that supports student safety in athletics," said Dr. Katie Flanagan, director of athletic training at East Carolina University, per Vocativ's Bradford William Davis. "However, our state has a very robust concussion law. I'll preface by saying I'm not a parent, but I don't believe HB 116 is in the best interest of the athletes."

North Carolina already has legislation on the books regarding how schools handle concussions. The Gfeller-Waller Concussion Awareness Act became law in 2001. Under the law, a student-athlete can't return to competition until he or she is evaluated by a licensed medical professional or an athletic trainer.

Properly treating concussions is important given the long-term consequences repeated head trauma can cause for athletes. The issue is even more imperative for high school students, because their brains are still developing as they mature, leaving them more susceptible to significant health problems.

Researchers from the National Academy of Sciences released a study in 2013 that found high school football players were twice as likely to suffer concussions than their collegiate equivalents.