Paige Decker's Case Study

While on the ice, hockey players can take a hit when they least expect it. They can be blind sided from behind or tripped with a stick at any given time. In the case of Paige Decker, the reckless behavior of another player can change not only the course of the game, but the course of a player 's life. Paige was a successful hockey player on the Yale women’s hockey team. She was in the prime of her game, and a member of the ECAC All-Academic team. She was preparing to graduate from a prestigious college, Yale University, with an impressive academic and athletic past. In November in 2013, Yale was gaining possession of the puck. Paige was cutting across the neutral zone and was attempting to receive a pass. Before the puck even got to her stick, …show more content…
(2) Due to the chance that they symptoms could be short-lived, it is important to receive prompt medical attention. Many experts say that a person should be examined by a healthcare professional if they receive more than a simply bump on their head. Immediate medical attention should be sought any time an elderly person falls or hits their head; especially if a loss of consciousness occurs (Mayo Clinic 2-4) In order to obtain a diagnosis, a physical exam will be completed. If a loss of consciousness occurs, it is important to assess and manage their airway, support their breathing, and maintain circulation. (Cifu 4) Once the patient is stable, their speech will be assessed and their memory of the events will be determined. The medical professional will more than likely check the injured person’s pupils for size and make sure they are equal in both eyes, complete coordination and balance checks, as well as their reflexes and monitor for sensory abnormalities. (Cifu 4) In addition to a physical exam, specific testing may need to happen. Standard testing to diagnose a concussion at the Emergency Room usually includes a computed tomography scan, also known as a CT scan. (Sports Concussion Institute 1) A CT scan is an imaging test that can quickly detect bleeding in the brain or skull fractures. (Cifu 5) An MRI, or magnetic resonance imaging, is generally used if …show more content…
If the athletes aren’t reporting the concussions, that may mean that they are not taking the proper time off to heal from the concussion. The lack of seriousness surrounding concussions is scary, because the long term effects of a concussion are very real. Students naturally have a great desire to return to their chosen sport as quickly as possible, but they can not be the one to determine how long they are out of play. The coaches and parents have to take a greater concern for the athletes health. They need to make sure the proper diagnosis is being made and that the number of concussions are being tracked. At the same time, athletes need to take into consideration the health and welfare of the athletes around them. They need to realize that their actions can be devastating to another player, especially when they are blindsiding their opponent. When looking at Paige Decker and how her opponent blindsided her, many young people may think that the risk of a serious accident is a rare occasion, but they need to realize that that is not the case. It doesn’t have to be one major blow to the head that leaves a person with long term effects. It could be a few mild concussions that build up to the more serious effects, because the brain lesions don’t get better with time. Instead, the lesions continue to be present, and can actually get worse with additional concussions. This is a good reason for athletes