CDC guide to prevent student concussions

WASHINGTON, Sept. 28 (UPI) -- U.S. health officials will create guidelines to protect students from sports-related traumatic brain injuries, two members of Congress from New Jersey say.

U.S. Rep. Bill Pascrell Jr. and U.S. Sen. Robert Menendez, both Democrats from New Jersey, are primary sponsors of the Concussion Treatment and Care Tools Act in the House and Senate, which provides for national protocols to be established for managing sports-related concussions for student athletes from the 5th grade to the 12th grade.

"We used to see concussions as minor injuries that didn't necessitate much medical attention. What we now know about the brain has now helped us all to see that every concussion is brain damage, and that we must do more to protect our children," Pascrell, co-founder of the Congressional Brain Injury Task Force, said in a statement.

"Today, we are here to announce one result of our efforts, as the CDC has agreed to implement the key provision of the ConTACT Act by forming an expert panel to define the need, scope and expectations of these federal guidelines for student athletes. The guidelines that the CDC would develop will take in advice from experts across the country, laying the foundation for all 50 states to implement a standard and protect our young athletes."