You can’t be too cautious when it comes to concussions.
The Redondo Beach Unified School District is learning this lesson the hard way after being sued last month by a student athlete on the Redondo Union High School (RUHS) water polo team, for allegedly failing to provide proper medical treatment after she suffered a concussion in practice.
Plaintiff Sarah Klahr also claimed that her parents were not notified by school officials after the incident, which occurred on Nov. 19, 2012.
Klahr argues in her lawsuit that the California Interscholastic Federation has done its part, forming a Sports Medicine Committee that provides information on concussions to member institutions, such as RUHS.
The incident occurred as Klahr was participating in a practice session involving members of the boys and girls water polo teams. She was “hit in the head by a shot on goal from one of the male individuals.’’ Klahr lost consciousness and even slipped under the water, but then resurfaced. The coach then allegedly proceeded with the practice, without summoning any help for Klahr. The complaint reads that Klahr left practice “with a headache, feeling sluggish and not feeling right.’’
A different set of problems emerged the next day when Klahr allegedly suffered stiffness and pain in her neck and shoulders. In the months that followed, her condition worsened to the point where the pain radiated throughout her spine, according to the lawsuit. These problems extended to the classroom, where she had difficulty concentrating and memorizing.
Overall, Klahr maintained that “there was a lack of supervision by the district before, during and after the incident. This increased the risk of harm to members of the RUHS’s girls’ water polo team including, but in no way limited to, Sarah.”
Concussions are nothing new to the sport of water polo.
Eighteen months ago, the Toronto Star reported on the trials and tribulations of the Canadian National Water Polo Team as it prepared for the Olympics.
“The Canadian women’s water polo team’s drive for the Olympic podium in London is being threatened by a concussion epidemic. … (E)ight members of the 20-member training squad have suffered concussions at various times… .”
The article went on to quote Head Coach Pat Oaten about the “dilemma” that he faces.
“I never question if an athlete is injured,” he told the paper. “If they tell me they’re injured, they’re injured, if they got smacked in the head or whatnot, because I’m not a doctor. My athlete’s health is going to come first. But it’s hard for a coach to understand what is going on.”
