Concussion Protocols. What Every Fight Doc Knows

One hit can change everything. In combat sports, concussions aren’t rare—and as a ringside physician, coach, fighter, or fan, knowing how to recognize them can save a career or even a life. In this episode of Ringside Medicine 101, I walk you through the exact concussion assessment and removal-from-play protocols I use ringside, from pre-fight baseline testing to in-fight recognition and post-fight clearance. You’ll learn: • What a concussion actually is and why it’s more than “just a ding.” • How baseline tools like the SCAT5 and King-Devick test give you critical reference points. • The ringside red flags that demand immediate removal from competition. • What USA Boxing and CDC protocols say about suspension times and return-to-play. • Stepwise treatment and recovery guidelines to keep athletes safe. This isn’t just medical theory—it’s the real protocol I follow ringside. Seconds matter. Judgment matters. Fighter safety matters most. Doctor Dynamo Ringside Gear These are the exact tools I bring to every boxing and MMA event. ⸻ 🥊 Ringside Bag #1 – Core Physician Kit • Stethoscope – 3M Littmann Classic III Monitoring Stethoscope (27” Black) https://amzn.to/4pAn3Bv • Blood Pressure Monitor https://amzn.to/42C8m73 • MedPride Powder-Free Nitrile Exam Gloves (size variant) https://amzn.to/423PU7e • Silver Nitrate Caustic Sticks, 6” (Pack of 100) https://amzn.to/4mvHA7w • BleedStop First Aid Powder Strip (Pack size per listing) https://amzn.to/46MytdU • Sterile Gauze Pads 4x4, 12-ply (qty per listing) https://amzn.to/4gvM4tk • Sterile Skin Stapler, 35 Wide Staples https://amzn.to/3KaV4s1 • Minor Laceration Tray w/Instruments https://amzn.to/4nFNhkd • Lidocaine HCl Injection, Fliptop Multiple Dose Vial, 50 mL (McGuff) https://www.mcguff.com/lidocaine-for-injection?productId=3108 • Insulin Syringes U-100 31G 1ml/cc 5/16” (8mm) Pack of 100 Pcs https://amzn.to/46NkWmu • No-Touch Infrared Thermometer (Adults/Kids) https://amzn.to/47OsGFP • Zacurate Pro Series 500DL Fingertip Pulse Oximeter (with silicone cover, batteries, lanyard) https://amzn.to/3Iz2AMC • Premium First Aid Kit, 300 Pieces https://amzn.to/4nDGCab • Elastic Bandages / Wraps – Expanding File Organizer with 8 Pockets (used as bandage organizer) https://amzn.to/4myksW1 • ExcelMark Custom Self-Inking Stamp (Personalized) https://amzn.to/46yb8eS ⸻ 🩺 Ringside Bag #2 – Supplemental & Trauma Support • 12-Channel ECG/EKG Monitor (portable; with waveform demo/recording per listing) https://amzn.to/4nIRy6G • Portable Oxygen Concentrator (1–5 L adjustable, ~93% stated; home/travel) https://amzn.to/42qDNBt ⸻ ⚠️ Disclosure As an Amazon Associate, I earn from qualifying purchases. Some links are affiliate links, meaning I may receive a commission at no additional cost to you. #ringsidemedicine #concussion #combatSports #boxingdoctor #sportsmedicine References & Resources CDC – Concussion Overview: https://www.cdc.gov/traumaticbraininjury/index.html Giza & Hovda, “Neurometabolic Cascade of Concussion,” Neurosurgery (2014): https://pubmed.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/24716482/ SCAT5 – Sport Concussion Assessment Tool (BJSM): https://bjsm.bmj.com/content/51/11/851 King-Devick Sideline Concussion Screening: https://kingdevicktest.com/products/sideline-concussion-screening/ CDC – Concussion Danger Signs: https://www.cdc.gov/heads-up/signs-symptoms/index.html#:~:text=Concussion%20danger%20signs CDC – Concussion Recovery Guidelines: https://www.cdc.gov/heads-up/guidelines/recovery-from-concussion.html University of Chicago Laboratory Schools Concussion Policy: https://www.ucls.uchicago.edu/uploaded/nurse/FINALIZED_concussion_forms_and_policy_2020.pdf USA Boxing Informational Guidebook (2025): https://www.teamusa.org/usa-boxing