New Hampshire Law to Emphasize Concussion Safety in Schools

New Hampshire Gov. John Lynch is publicly signing a law that creates new rules regarding student-athletes who suffer concussions.

The motivation behind the bill is the increasing number of head injuries in youth sports.

Lynch signed the law Monday.

Under the law, which takes effect Aug. 17, information about concussions would be distributed to all youth athletes each year, and parents would have to sign forms indicating they had read the information before the start of practice.

Concussions are caused by a blow that forces the head to move violently. They can affect memory, judgment, reflexes, speech, balance and muscle coordination. The symptoms become worse if not properly treated. Young people are more susceptible to long-term repercussions than adults.