Cobb Co. to give student athletes concussion tests
MARIETTA, Ga. (AP) -- The Cobb County school district is screening 8,000 student athletes for concussion before the start of the 2011-12 athletic season to create a comparison for when athletes are injured.
The district will announce the new program Thursday during a 10:30 a.m. news conference.
Cobb County is teaming up with WellStar Health System for the tests, which will provide a baseline reading for medical staff in case the student is injured.
The 20-minute test measures cognitive functions like attention span, working memory and reaction time.
Experts estimate U.S. emergency rooms treat 135,000 sports- and recreation-related injuries in children ages five to 18 every year. If left untreated, concussions can cause long-term problems and even death.
The Associated Press






















