Second Impact Syndrome

Second Impact Syndrome is a serious condition that affects people everywhere, especially young athletes. SIS has a high mortality rate and can otherwise cause severe mental disabilities. Therefore, it is important to raise awareness about the dangers of the condition and what steps should be taken to prevent it.

SIS occurs when an athlete suffers a concussion and returns to sport too early. Since the brain is more vulnerable after an initial injury, even a minor impact can cause irreversible damage. Even if the athlete does not lose consciousness, they may appear stunned and can collapse within minutes. Since their condition will worsen over the course of a few minutes, life-saving measures should be taken immediately.

The best way to prevent SIS is to make sure that athletes do not return until they have been cleared by a sports medicine professional. If an athlete resumes playing while suffering from post-concussion symptoms, they are at extreme risk of succumbing to Second Impact Syndrome. In the case that the condition does occur, it is important to focus on stabilizing the patient with airway management.