Why you are being asked
This is the law, not paperwork
California Health and Safety Code section 124235 applies to any business that conducts amateur sports training for people 17 or younger. Bradford Fitness is one. The section requires three things of us, and one of you.
Of us: remove an athlete from activity the moment a concussion is suspected, keep them out until a licensed health care provider clears them in writing, and hand you this information every year.
Of you: sign to confirm you received it, before your athlete's first session.
Plenty of programs treat this as a box to tick. The reason it exists is that a second head impact before a first concussion has healed can be catastrophic in a way the first one was not.
What we do
Every time, no exceptions
Part one
Concussion and head injury
A concussion is a brain injury caused by a blow to the head or body that makes the brain move inside the skull. An athlete does not have to be knocked out — most concussions happen without any loss of consciousness at all.
Signs you might see in your athlete
Appears dazed or stunned · is confused about position or assignment · forgets an instruction · is unsure of the score or opponent · moves clumsily · answers questions slowly · loses consciousness even briefly · shows mood, behavior or personality changes · cannot recall events before or after the hit.
Symptoms your athlete might report
Headache or pressure in the head · nausea or vomiting · balance problems or dizziness · double or blurry vision · sensitivity to light or noise · feeling sluggish, hazy, foggy or groggy · confusion · trouble concentrating or remembering · just "not feeling right."
Signs that mean go to the emergency department now
One pupil larger than the other · drowsiness or an inability to wake up · a headache that gets worse and does not go away · slurred speech, weakness, numbness or decreased coordination · repeated vomiting or nausea · convulsions or seizures · unusual behavior, increased confusion, restlessness or agitation · loss of consciousness, even briefly.
What to do
Tell us. Keep your athlete out of training and out of play. See a health care provider experienced in evaluating concussion. Do not let anyone talk you into a same-day return — including your athlete. Return to school work usually comes before return to training, and both should be gradual.
Signs and symptoms above follow the CDC's HEADS UP guidance for youth sports. Full materials: cdc.gov/heads-up.
Part two
Sudden cardiac arrest
Sudden cardiac arrest is when the heart stops beating without warning. In young athletes it is rare, and it is usually caused by a heart condition that was present from birth and never diagnosed. It is not a heart attack, and it is not caused by training hard.
Warning signs — in the athlete
Fainting or seizure, especially during or right after exercise · chest pain or discomfort with exertion · racing or fluttering heartbeat · unexplained shortness of breath · dizziness or light-headedness during exercise · unusual or extreme tiredness relative to teammates doing the same work.
Warning signs — in the family history
Any relative who died suddenly and unexpectedly before age 50 · a family history of an inherited heart condition such as hypertrophic cardiomyopathy, long QT syndrome or Marfan syndrome · a relative with an implanted defibrillator or a pacemaker fitted young.
The one that matters most
Fainting during exercise is never normal. It is the single most commonly missed warning sign. If your athlete faints during or immediately after activity, they stop, and they see a doctor before they train again — here or anywhere else.
What we do
An athlete who faints or shows any of the signs above is removed from activity for the day and stays out until a licensed health care provider clears them. If a provider suspects a cardiac condition, the athlete remains under that provider's care through follow-up testing before returning. Carl Bradford holds current CPR, AED and First Aid certification.
Warning signs follow the Eric Paredes Save A Life Foundation and California Department of Education guidance issued under the Eric Paredes Sudden Cardiac Arrest Prevention Act. Full materials: epsavealife.org.
Part three
Sign to confirm you received this
Required once every year, before your athlete's first session of that year. If your athlete is 7 or older they should read it too, and their name goes in the box below yours.