Injured teen illustrates the need for concussion safety

This month the Brain Injury Association of America will mark Brain Injury Awareness Month.

concussion laws blog

Nine years ago, Zackery Lystedt was a playing football game with his team at Maple Valley Junior High. Zack went back into the game in the fourth quarter after a hard hit in the third. The game ended, his dad, Victor, ran out onto the field to congratulate Zach for a good play. Zack told his dad that his head hurt. Then, he said, he couldn't see, and then Zack collapsed onto the field.

Injured teen illustrates the need for concussion safety

Did you see all the news about concussions leading up to the Super Bowl? It’s got everyone talking, from doctors to professional athletes. Even Snoop Dog is weighing in. So in case you missed it, we put together the most intriguing articles all in one place. Check out the articles that interest you the most, and pass this list on to the coaches, parents and young athletes in your life.

Protect children from concussion

While working at Safe Kids, regardless of whether we have children or not, we develop a parents’ radar for ways kids are vulnerable to injury. I am no different. Earlier this summer, I visited my family in Santa Cruz, California, and spent a lot of time watching my then 8-year-old nephew, Logan, play baseball with his team, the Mets.

sports safety

As the program manager for sports safety, where much of my work is focused on keeping kids healthy and in top shape for sports, I’m inspired by the young athletes I meet or hear about each day. Kids who are full of passion for the sports they love and a desire to work hard and play their best each time they’re out on the field.

Concussion Coach Blog

When I’m not working at Safe Kids, I spend most of my time coaching a club field hockey team with girls ages 12-19. This is an elite club that was created for the best players from northern Virginia to come together, play in tournaments and hopefully get recruited to play in college. They are incredible athletes and have an inspiring passion for the game.