Terri Bonoff

Senator Terri Bonoff (DFL-Minnetonka) is co-authoring legislation that would require school coaches, staff and even students to know the first signs of a concussion and also enforce strict regulations about returning to the field after a concussion has occurred.

Earlier this week, Bonoff said she has personally seen the damage that sports-related concussions can do to young people—both of her sons having suffered "severe concussions" while playing sports. She said school coaches and staff aren't educated thoroughly enough on how to deal with concussions when they happen.

Bonoff detailed a time when her own son suffered a concussion playing football. She said it was a terrible blow to his head and that school officials merely told her to take him home. But before Bonoff could get him inside the car, her son was throwing up, crying and screaming, leading her to immediately call 911.

Bonoff said that medical personnel later told her that her son should have never been allowed to leave the field, but should have been taken out on a stretcher.The hope is that other Minnesota families can avoid the same potentially life-threatening situation that hers did.

{ Katelynn Metz | Minnetonka Patch }