A concussed athlete experiencing symptoms such as repeated vomiting, worsening headache, slurred speech or loss of consciousness may have suffered a more serious head injury and should be taken immediately to the emergency room at the nearest hospital.

Coaches need to create a culture of safety in which self-reporting by athletes of concussion symptoms is encouraged, not discouraged, and they aren't penalized for honest reporting, says neuropsychologist Elizabeth M. Pieroth, Psy.D, Associate Director of the Sports Concussion Program of NorthShore Medical Group and consultant to the Chicago Bears, Blackhawks, White Sox, and Fire. Like coaches, game officials need to be on the lookout for concussion symptoms after an athlete takes a hard hit, such as confusion, imbalance, slowness to respond, or the player can't remember plays. Because they are right in the middle of the action, game officials, she says, are often in a better position than those on the sideline to spot athletes with possible concussion.