Risk Assessment
High School Teacher and Coaches Knowledge of Concussions
Paper Presentation in a Themed Session Richard bomgardner
Academic performance or classroom readjustment issues have been observed in students returning to school after a concussion. High school students who suffered a concussion have reported greater deficiencies in academic skills of note taking, completing homework, and studying. In addition, post-concussion students involved in higher levels of cognitive activity during school have shown longer recovery periods. The purpose of this research was to evaluate high school teachers and coaches on their knowledge of concussions and issues relating to the school environment. High school teachers and coaches were surveyed on their history of concussion training, awareness of national, state, or local policies, classroom observations, school accommodations, and concussion knowledge. Implications to this research have shown school personnel and teachers should be more knowledgeable about concussions and classroom management strategies. Gaps within the education system have exposed unmet needs for students with concussions such as a lack of school policy, academic accommodation barriers, and inconsistencies in communication channels. Teachers recognizing when concussion signs/symptoms are effecting the students learning potential will aid in providing earlier intervention. School personnel should prioritize courses when students return to school to decrease potential barriers to learning. Cognitive issues pertaining to difficulty concentrating, focusing, and remembering have been reported symptoms for concussions which can last several days to months. Therefore, the importance for schools to develop and implement a return to learn plan to reintegrate a post-concussion student back to school needs to be the foundation for academic support.
Head Injuries in Swedish Ice Hockey, and the Associated Risk Regulation Regime
Paper Presentation in a Themed Session Olov Hemmingsson
Due to the progressing knowledge regarding long-term health effects of head trauma in certain contact sports, the question of regulation is likely to be raised. In the case of Sweden, sporting activities are still part of a large civic movement mainly financed through public resources. Explicitly justified through claims of health promotion as well as alleged effects on social capital, the Swedish state, and its municipalities spend a substantial amount of public resources in support of sports organizations each year. With numbers of active athletes as well as spectator numbers and public resources spent considered, ice hockey is arguably one of the biggest sports in Sweden. The legitimacy given to the sport through public funding and explicit recognition regarding positive societal effects is likely to be increasingly questioned due to the increasing amount of head injuries happening in the game as well as the aforementioned knowledge on the long term risks of such injuries. With this problem in mind, this PhD-thesis aims to advance the knowledge on the risk regulation regime associated with Swedish ice hockey through three empirical studies. First, a corpus-assisted discourse study of the media narrative related to the specific risk. Second, a quantitative content analysis of the information communicated by the Swedish ice hockey organization. Third, a network analysis intended to map the organizations involved in the regulatory regime and the dynamics between them.
Risk Communication in Trampoline Parks
Paper Presentation in a Themed Session Jon Heshka
Trampoline parks have seen rapid growth in the last 10 years. In the US, the number of parks increased from about 40 in 2011 to 280 in 2014 to approximately 500 now. ER visits for trampoline park related injuries exploded from 581 in 2010 to 6932 in 2014. Children aged 6 to 17 accounted for the majority of injuries. There has been significant fallout from injuries and deaths sustained at trampoline parks. Lawsuits have been launched; most are settled but some have resulted in large payouts. Insurance premiums have skyrocketed and coverage has been cut. The industry is suffering from market fatigue and it has been hurt by negative news coverage; this market correction has resulted in overall reduced revenue with many parks closing their doors. Many jurisdictions are looking at the role government should play in the regulation of trampoline parks. This paper will look at the injuries being sustained by its users, practical ways to reduce the harm being suffered and measures to mitigate the liability exposure of trampoline park operators. Data has been obtained from trampoline park operators and insurers. The paper will dive into the deep end of systems-based risk management and will examine its four stages (pre-incident, active management, crisis management, and post-incident). The paper will focus on risk communication (marketing, signage, waivers, etc.) and the delicate balancing act of presenting trampoline parks as a fun and safe activity while at the same time saying it’s dangerous.
