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Concussion Assessment 
Concussion Recognition Tool 5 (CRT5)

STEP 1: RED FLAGS -
CALL AN AMBULANCE

⛔️Neck pain or tenderness

⛔️Double vision

⛔️Weakness or tingling/burning in arms or legs

⛔️Severe or increasing headache

⛔️Seizure or convulsion

⛔️Loss of consciousness

⛔️Deteriorating conscious state

⛔️Vomiting

⛔️Increasingly restless, agitated or combative

Step 2

Observable signs

Visual clues that suggest possible concussion include:

  • Lying motionless on the playing surface

  • Slow to get up after a direct or indirect hit to the head

  • Disorientation or confusion, or an inability to respond appropriately to questions

  • Blank or vacant look

  • Balance, gait difficulties, motor incoordination, stumbling, slow laboured movements

  • Facial injury after head trauma

Step 3

Symptoms

  • Headache

  • “Pressure in head”

  • Balance problems

  • Nausea or vomiting

  • Drowsiness

  • Dizziness

  • Blurred vision

  • Sensitivity to light

  • Sensitivity to noise

  • Fatigue or low energy

  • “Don’t feel right”

  • More emotional

  • More Irritable

  • Sadness

  • Nervous or anxious

  • Neck Pain

  • Difficulty concentrating

  • Difficulty remembering

  • Feeling slowed down

  • Feeling like “in a fog

Step 4

Memory assessment

Failure to answer any of these questions (modified appropriately for each sport) correctly may suggest a concussion:

  •  “What venue are we at today?”

  • “Which half is it now?”

  • “Who scored last in this game?”

  • “What team did you play last week/game?”

  • Did your team win the last game?”

Any player with a suspected concussion

should be immediately removed from practice or play and SHOULD NOT return to activity until assessed medically, even if the symptoms resolve

Athletes with suspected concussion should:

  • Not be left alone initially (at least for the first 1-2 hours).

  • Not drink alcohol.

  • Not use recreational/ prescription drugs.

  • Not be sent home by themselves. They need to be with a responsible adult.

  • Not drive a motor vehicle until cleared to do so by a healthcare professional.

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