© 2024
NPR for Northern Colorado
Play Live Radio
Next Up:
0:00
0:00
0:00 0:00
Available On Air Stations

Youth Concussion Bill Passes Next Step in Legislature

Jake Snakenberg
Healthpolicysolutions.org
Jake Snakenberg

It’s estimated that emergency rooms statewide see between 1,500 and 2,500 youth athlete concussion cases each year. A bill aimed at reducing that number continues to make its way through the Colorado legislature.

Senate Bill 11-40 would require coaches of youth sports to undergo annual training to recognize the signs of concussion – and remove a player from a game if they suffer a concussion or show symptoms of one.

The bill is also known as the Jake Snakenberg Youth Concussion Act. It’s so named after a freshman football player from Grandview High who died during a game in 2004 from “Second Impact Syndrome” stemming from a concussion he suffered in a game a week prior.

The bill passed in the House and Health and Environment Committee with unanimous support. It’s also passed a similar committee in the Senate.

 

Email: brian.larson@kunc.org