A concussion is a traumatic brain injury. It happens when your head is dealt a blow so strong that your brain bounces around in your skull, creating possibly dangerous chemical changes and damaging brain cells. (Source: CDC) It is not being “punch drunk”. It is not a joke to laugh off. Concussions can have serious effects and should never be taken lightly. The reality is anyone is at risk for getting a concussion. Even you!
Concussions can happen to your extremely agile cheerleading daughter or your super athletic soccer playing son. Concussions can also happen to your book worm little cousin who slips on some ice or your savvy mom on one of her shopping sprees on the cobblestone streets of wherever. While sports like soccer, football, lacrosse, and cheerleading are typical culprits of causing concussions, a traumatic brain injury can be caused by a number of different activities. And anyone at any age can have a concussion. They can be difficult to detect and their effects are varied.
Concussions can cause memory, balance, and coordination issues and they can affect your concentration as well. If left untreated, these effects can get devastatingly worse. One way to protect yourself and the rest of your family from these traumatic brain injury effects is to complete the concussion baseline testing otherwise known as ImPACT. This test looks at five functioning areas of your brain: verbal memory, visual memory, visual motor speed, reaction time, and impulse control. Testing your brain before a concussion happens is very useful to show doctors how your brain functions normally. If, God forbid, you or your children did get a concussion, doctors would have a better sense of the severity of the injury and perhaps make it easier to detect. The baseline test is good for two years.
Free Concussion Baseline Testing in Atlanta, GA
If you are in Atlanta, GA you’re in luck because it is home to the Concussion Institute at Gwinnett Medical Center. This state of the art facility is doing its part to help screen for concussions by hosting its first ever Concussion Baseline Testing Day on August 15, 2015 from 8:30 a.m. to 2:30 p.m.. Anyone age 12 and over can go to one of 19 Gwinnett County high schools to get a free ImPACT baseline test. Advanced registration by August 11, 2015 is required to schedule a baseline test. Plan to be at the event about one hour, though the baseline test takes about 25 minutes to complete. Following the test, medical professionals will be available to answer any questions.
Want to get a concussion baseline test for yourself or your family member? RSVP here before the time slots are filled!
Event details:
Who: Anyone aged 12 years old or older can be tested.
What: Concussion Baseline Testing Day
Where: 19 Gwinnett County high schools (see list above)
When: August 15, 2015 with times slots available from 8:30 a.m. – 2:30 p.m.
How long: Allow 1 hour start to finish however the testing only takes 25 minutes.
How much: Free!
Remember, you must RSVP by Augus 11, 2015: bit.ly/gmcrsvp
