Concussion education / North Central Florida

Youth and High School Sports Concussions in Gainesville and Ocala

Did your child take a hit in football, soccer or cheer in Gainesville, Ocala or Lake City? Concussion signs parents should watch and how to get help.

Watching your child take a hard hit on the field is every parent's worry. In Gainesville, Ocala and Lake City, where school and club sports are a big part of life, knowing the signs of concussion helps you act quickly.

Game days in North Central Florida

Friday night football, travel soccer, cheer, wrestling and equestrian sports are a big part of life in Alachua, Marion and Columbia counties. Under Florida law (section 1006.20), a high school athlete suspected of a concussion must be removed from play right away and cannot return until the school receives written clearance from a qualified health care practitioner. Families driving to games on I-75, US-441 and US-27 also face rural road crashes.

Signs parents should watch

Watch for a child who seems dazed, forgets plays, moves clumsily, answers slowly, has a headache, feels sick or dizzy, or acts differently after a hit. When in doubt, sit them out, and follow the clearance steps your school and provider give you.

Your child's long-term health matters more than any single game. When in doubt, sit them out.

Common concussion symptoms

• Physical: headache, nausea, dizziness, balance problems, blurry vision, sensitivity to light or noise.
• Thinking: feeling foggy or slowed down, trouble concentrating or remembering.
• Emotional: irritability, sadness, anxiety.
• Sleep: sleeping more or less than usual.

When to go to the emergency room

Call 911 or go to the nearest ER right away for danger signs such as a headache that gets worse and does not go away, repeated vomiting, weakness or numbness, slurred speech, seizures, unusual confusion, one pupil larger than the other, or loss of consciousness. In the area, hospitals with emergency departments include UF Health Shands Hospital in Gainesville and HCA Florida Ocala Hospital; in an emergency, go to whichever ER is closest.

Getting checked in North Central Florida

If symptoms are not severe but are not going away, start with your treating provider, such as your primary care doctor, chiropractor, orthopedist, pain management physician or physical therapist. Keep a short symptom diary to share with them. If they decide objective testing makes sense, they can refer you to Braintree. We are a mobile service: our team brings concussion and TBI testing to your provider's office across North Central Florida, so you are tested somewhere familiar. Your provider receives a physician-reviewed diagnostic report and decides on your care.

Not sure where to start? Call our help line at 813-709-3771. We can walk you through how testing works and help you think about next steps for getting checked and finding care. You can also read our guide for patients and families.

For local providers

If you treat accident or injury patients in Gainesville, Ocala, The Villages and Lake City, Braintree brings mobile concussion and TBI testing to your office and returns a physician-reviewed diagnostic report. You stay in charge of care. We diagnose. You treat. See how it works for providers or send a referral.

For legal teams

Personal injury firms serving North Central Florida can learn how testing at the client's treating provider's office produces objective, physician-reviewed diagnostic reports. Testing is ordered by the treating provider. See information for attorneys.

Frequently asked questions

Related: Concussion testing in North Central Florida | Concussion testing in Florida | For patients and families | Call 813-709-3771

Sources

• CDC: About mild TBI and concussion
• CDC HEADS UP: Concussion signs and symptoms
• NIH NINDS: Traumatic Brain Injury

This article is educational and is not medical or legal advice. If this is a medical emergency, call 911.