NFL Posts Concussion Warning
In a story first published by the New York Times, the National Football League has announced that it will put a very clear and sternly worded message in the locker rooms of all 32 NFL clubs on Tuesday.
The poster is part of the league's crack down to reduce concussions and head injuries. It explains how a concussion can change a player's life and a player's family lives forever. The poster is also in blunt language, and the tone of the words can be read and felt in the minds of the players, and is a far contrast from a pamphlet that was handed to them in 2007.
Here is what the pamphlet of 2007 states (from ESPN):
"Current research with professional athletes has not shown that having more than one or two concussions leads to permanent problems if each injury is treated properly," and also left open the question of "if there are any long-term effects of concussion in NFL athletes."
And here are some excerpts from the poster that will be hung at NFL Stadiums across the country that leave three very important pieces on what to do when you think you have a concussion.
- Report It
- Get Checked Out
- Take Care of Your Brain.
Perhaps the most important piece of the concussion poster was the very last message:
"Work Smart. Use your head, don't lead with it. Help make our game safer. Other athletes are watching."
It won't solve the concussion problem, as injuries are a part of the game, but the awareness and serious tone the NFL is taking will be a step in the right direction.
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