Like many kids, Jamie learned the hard way that a serious head injury &LKGBO& || coach immediately. As You Read, Think About: Why is it important to speak up if you think you have a concussion? J amiePealer didn’t see the ball coming. In September 2018, she was racing up the field during a soccer game. Her teammate kicked the ball, and it accidentally smacked Jamie on the side of the head. “I had an immediate headache and a really weird feeling in my head,” says Jamie, who’s now 15. But she didn’t think much of it and kept playing. After a couple of days, Jamie’s head was still pounding. Her doctor told her that she had sustained a head injury known as a concussion The hit to her head had caused Jamie’s brain to shake inside her skull. Bright light and loud noise made her headaches worse. She couldn’t WORDS TO KNOW sustained verb, past tense, suffered or experienced something unpleasant, such as an injury advocate noun, a person who supports or looks out for someone concentrate. She missed two weeks of school and nearly three months of soccer. Jamie’s injury was serious—and unfortunately, it’s pretty common. Each year, about half a million kids age 14 and under get a concussion in the U.S. Experts warn that these head injuries can happen to anyone, not just athletes, so it’s important to understand what concussions are and how to spot them. Concussion Concerns Many people think concussions are a problem only in football or other full-contact sports. But a 2017 study showed that girls who play soccer are more likely to suffer a concussion than boys who play football. And every year, tens of thousands of kids suffer concussions doing everyday activities, such as riding a bike, playing on a playground, or just walking down stairs. You don’t even need to hit your head to get a concussion, explains Christina Master. She is a doctor who specializes in concussions in children. Any hard blow to the body that jolts your head can cause one. Speak up! I wish I hadn’t kept playing after my first concussion. Never „ . . Help! ignore a hit to your head—even if you think you’re fine. Tell a parent or Don’t try to tough it out. No one wants to let down their teammates. But trying to show you’re tough by playing through the pain will only hurt you more in the end. Be patient. Healing after a concussion can be slow and frustrating. But trust me: Life can be much worse if you come back to play before you’re fully recovered. 4 SCHOLASTIC NEWS EDITION 5/6 • October 21, 2019