Overview
Introduction
A player may be talking normally after a collision while brain function is temporarily disrupted.
A player may be talking normally after a collision while brain function is temporarily disrupted. Concussion assessment therefore begins with safety, not with a score. The Sport Concussion Assessment Tool 6 (SCAT6) is the acute assessment tool for athletes aged 13 years and older. Child SCAT6 is used for children aged 8–12 years. CRT6 can be used with a person of any age by a non-healthcare provider for recognition and removal from play; it does not replace assessment by a healthcare professional. SCAT6 and Child SCAT6 may be administered only by a licensed healthcare professional. Their greatest clinical value is during the first 72 hours after injury and declines substantially thereafter; SCOAT6 or Child SCOAT6 is more appropriate for sub-acute office assessment and serial follow-up. The SCAT6 supports clinical judgement but does not diagnose concussion, determine recovery, or authorize return to competition. In Canada, diagnosis and the Medical Assessment and Medical Clearance Letters are restricted to a physician or nurse practitioner. The RN's immediate priorities are to remove the athlete, identify emergency features, protect the cervical spine when indicated, arrange...