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Unit 5 Analyzing Concussion Protocol

District 87

Unit Five Schools are updating policies to deal with student concussions and head injuries. 

School Board Member Barry Hitchins said the new procedures will also cover injuries that happen during recess, P.E. courses, and after school activities such as marching band. 

"Our procedures are really built around making sure those students who sustain head injuries pass certain criteria before they can move on to greater levels of involvement both in the classroom and on the playing field," said Hitchins.

Hitchins said staff should be thinking about student safety everywhere in school.

Hitchins added administrators already think about the path for student athletes to return to practices, but there are also steps to take before going back to studying.  

"Even by going back to school, you are putting stress on your nervous system and that can impede your recovery. Anything that slows your recovery time down takes time away from the classroom," said Hitchins.

Hitchins said recovering students can benefit from rest and less use of electronics.

The school board will vote to approve the procedures during the next meeting on March 8.  

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Mike joined GLT's staff as a student reporter in February of 2016 having worked previously as a reporter at Illinois State University's student radio station, 103.3 WZND. He acted as a director for the WZND newsroom for two years. Mike was also seen as a reporter, producer, and anchor at TV-10 News. He graduated with a bachelor's degree in broadcast journalism in May of 2017 before starting his post-graduate career with the Public Affairs Reporting Masters Program at University of Illinois Springfield.
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