Early Warnings for Concussions

Concussions from football trauma aren't just a problem for professional players. Take, for example, the case of Zackery Lystedt, who was tackled in a middle-school football game four years ago in Maple Valley, Washington. Despite a concussion, the 13-year-old Lystedt was sent back into the game—not once but twice. After the contest ended, he collapsed with a hemorrhaging brain injury that left him severely disabled and unable to walk.

In May 2009, Washington Gov. Christine Gregoire signed the "Lystedt Law," which requires safeguards including written clearance from a licensed health care provider before a youth athlete who has been removed from a game can return to play. In September 2009, Lystedt's parents settled a personal injury lawsuit brought on his behalf against the Tacoma, Washington, school district for a reported $14.6 million.

As of spring 2010, five other states had passed statutes inspired by the Lystedt Law. And last May, NFL Commissioner Roger Goodell sent a letter to the governors of the remaining 44 states urging them to follow suit. In California, the Legislature is considering AB 1646, which would require all high school football coaches to be trained to understand the signs and symptoms of specified injuries, including those related to the head and neck.

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