ELI5: Explain Like I'm 5

Concussions in Australian sport

Do you know how sometimes if you hit your head really hard, it can make you feel kind of dizzy or sick? Well, when athletes play sports like football or rugby, they sometimes hit their heads really hard too. When this happens, it can give them what's called a concussion.

A concussion is like a big bump on your head, except on the inside of your head where you can't see it. It happens when your brain gets jostled around too much inside your skull. This can make you feel very dizzy, sick, or give you a headache. Sometimes it can even make you forget things or have a hard time thinking clearly.

In Australia, lots of sports are played that have a high risk of concussions, like football, rugby, and boxing. So, people who work with athletes, like coaches, doctors, and trainers, have to be very careful to make sure everyone is safe and not getting too many concussions.

One way they try to prevent concussions is by making sure athletes wear helmets or headgear to protect their heads. If someone does get hit in the head and they start feeling dizzy or sick, they need to tell a grown-up right away so they can get checked out by a doctor.

Sometimes, when someone has too many concussions, it can be very dangerous for them to keep playing sports. This is why it's so important for everyone to work together to keep athletes safe and make sure they're not getting hurt too much.