This year is the first in which Montgomery County schools have established mandatory baseline concussion testing for all athletes on school sports teams. Over the past few years, the public’s knowledge of concussions has increased thus leading to further research of how a concussion can affect the brain.

Now the issue of concussions has evolved into a statewide concern with Montgomery County at the forefront of this new proactive wave. As of 2013, Montgomery County has contracted four different medical groups to administer these baseline tests, such as MedStar, which was hired to work with WJ students.

Prior to this year, baseline testing was administered to the football team because of they are prone to head injuries due to the nature of the sport. Finally, after numerous other athletes involved in other sports also were affected by concussions, the county decided that precautionary measures needed to be taken.

After experiencing her first concussion in March of 2013, junior field hockey and lacrosse player Dani Vogel was dismayed to find  she received another one on Sept. 27. Despite her disappointment with her injury, she said that the “[Baseline testing] is actually really helpful because they’re able to track [her] progress throughout the next few weeks.”

Students are tested at the beginning of their season every two years, but due to her recent concussion, Vogel will be tested frequently to compare her new scores to her nonconcussed scores in order to check her progress.

Athletic Director Sue Amos said the testing was of the utmost importance. She said the testing helps to make parents more aware of the dangers of concussions, as well as prompts students to learn more about potential consequences and what concussions really are.

“People think you have to be knocked out [to have a concussion]” said Amos. “That’s not true.”

It is becoming more apparent that concussions are not minor injuries; they can be very serious and have long term affects on brain function such as early onset Alzheimer’s and dementia said Amos.

Concussions are defined by the Mayo Clinic as a traumatic brain injury that alters the way your brain functions with affects that include problems with headache, concentration, memory, judgment, balance and coordination.

New standards require coaches  to fill out forms as soon as one of their athletes has received potential concussion occurs. In addition, schools are  provided with athletic trainers from their allotted medical company such as MedStar.

Senior Ben Meyers, the goal keeper on the varsity boys’ soccer team, has had four concussions throughout his athletic career.

“I became very irritable and angry at everything,”  said Meyers. “I couldn’t focus on school and the work was harder I fell behind in school cause I missed eight days recovering.”  He also said concussions should be taken seriously. “It’s your brain, it’s not something you just shrug off.”

Meyers is now thankful for the baseline test, because it makes the process of diagnosis much shorter.