ORCAS Releases Free, Online Concussion Training and Certification for Coaches

EUGENE, Ore., May 20 /PRNewswire/ -- The Oregon Center for Applied Science (ORCAS) today launched ACTive®, an online training and certification program that gives sports coaches the tools and information to protect players from sports concussions. Available for free at http://activecoach.orcasinc.com, ACTive® is the only program of its kind to be funded by the National Institutes of Health, developed by leading researchers and validated in a clinical trial.

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An estimated 3.8 million sports and recreation-related concussions occur each year in the United States.  Long misunderstood as "bellringers" that were just "part of the game," researchers now know that concussions can lead to devastating consequences if not properly managed. Young people are particularly vulnerable to the effects of concussion, and are more likely to experience prolonged memory and attention problems as a result. Rarely, victims suffer subsequent brain injuries while recovering from a concussion, which can lead to severe long-term injury or death.

"There is a critical need to educate athletic coaches about the seriousness of concussion," said research scientist Dr. Ann Glang, who co-developed ACTive®. "Vast numbers of children and adolescents who play organized sports are at-risk for these injuries. Most coaches are volunteers without formal training. Young athletes need to know their coaches have the knowledge and tools to detect and manage concussions."

Many states, including New Mexico, Oklahoma, Oregon, Texas, and Washington have mandates that all coaches receive sports concussion training.

The ACTive® sports concussion education program has been proven to increase coaches' knowledge of concussion symptoms and improve their ability to make decisions about concussion management.  Results of a clinical trial showed that coaches who viewed the program had much greater knowledge of concussion symptoms and increased confidence to make decisions about concussion management.

ACTive® is based on guidelines put forth by the International Conference on Concussion in Sport and the Centers for Disease Control and is recommended by the creators of ImPACT™ (Immediate Post-concussion Assessment and Cognitive Testing). The 20-minute training includes videos and activities that give the user the opportunity to respond to sample athletic scenarios involving possible concussions. Interactive quizzes reinforce key teaching points.  

Upon completion of the ACTive program, users receive a custom certificate that can count toward mandated training. The Oregon School Activities Association (OSAA) recognizes ACTive® as a validated online coaches training program. Oregon coaches are using this toward the state-mandated training.  "OSAA helped ORCAS with the most recent evaluation of the ACTive program," said Tom Welter, Executive Director of OSAA. "We had coaches tell us that the program is tremendous, easy to watch, and very well done.  We're now using ACTive statewide to get all our high school coaches trained."

About The Oregon Center for Applied Science

The Oregon Center for Applied Science, Inc. is a health-based research organization that produces science-based multimedia products designed to help people lead healthier lives.  For more information contact the Oregon Center for Applied Science at [email protected] or visit www.orcasinc.com.

SOURCE The Oregon Center for Applied Science, Inc.