“What Parents, Coaches and Athletes Need to Know About Concussions” will be the subject of a free public seminar from 6 p.m. to 9 p.m. Monday at Hirata Hall on the McKinley High School campus.

The Hawaii Athletic Trainers’ Association is presenting the event to provide information about symptoms and treatment of concussions. “Proper identification and care of sports concussions can limit the extent of damage to the athlete,” it says.

Permanent brain damage, paralysis and even death can result from head trauma sustained in athletic competition, the association says.

About 300,000 sports-related concussions occur annually in the United States, according to the U.S. Centers for  Disease Control and Prevention.

 “There is general consensus among sports medicine professionals that concussions occur at an even higher rate than what has been reported,” says the Hawaii Athletic Trainers’ Association.