Contact sports are one of the many things that define America. Many students across America begin playing contact sports at a young age. The practice of these contact sports presents a high risk of concussion. Concussions are mild head injuries that can lead to more serious brain damage and, in some cases, death or permanent disability. Through many forms of research and studies, the effects of contact sports up to the professional level are being examined for their extreme dangerousness and necessitating greater awareness of player safety. Say no to plagiarism. Get a tailor-made essay on “Why Violent Video Games Should Not Be Banned”? Get an original essay A concussion is a violent shaking or shaking of the brain. The most severe level of disturbance would result in temporary loss of consciousness following a major blow to the head. If there is loss of consciousness, a concussion is then considered a traumatic brain injury and if severe enough, the injury can result in shearing of nerve fibers and neurons. In order to identify a concussion, there are many signs and symptoms to look for, including headaches, motor dysfunction, distortion of sensory abilities, hypersensitivity, and cognitive impairment. With all of these signs and symptoms, there is another one that is a determining factor in a concussion and that would be amnesia. Amnesia is classified into two categories when related to concussion: retrograde and anterograde. Those who suffer from it have difficulty forming new memories or lose the ability to recall past information and memories. Concussion rates vary by age and gender. Children and adolescents account for approximately 70% of sports-related concussions. Regarding the gender aspect of statistics, the cause of head injuries is different. For men, the top three incidents occur while cycling, football and basketball, while for women the top three incidents are cycling, playground activities and horse riding. Women are more prone to concussions than men. Head injuries usually end with a trip to the emergency room. Of all age groups visiting the emergency department, children have the highest rate of head injury. According to “Concussions and Sports,” athletics are the most common way to get a concussion or head injury. For many, sustaining a concussion is of no significance other than the fact that it renders the person unable to participate. What most athletes are unaware of is the risk they take when attempting to compete before their symptoms have completely resolved. Second impact syndrome, or SIS, occurs when a person suffers a second concussion after a concussion whose symptoms have not been completely eliminated, causing rapid swelling of the brain and potentially leading to numerous catastrophic events that can go to death. SIS causes vascular congestion and increases pressure in the brain, which is often very difficult to contain. 69% of athletes played with symptoms of a possible concussion and 40% of athletes who suffered a concussion never told their coaches, increasing their risk of second impact syndrome. As a young boy, being a football player is a.