September 22-28
By Shaylen Hardy
Did you know that September 22nd marks the beginning of National Concussion Awareness Week in
Canada?
The goal for this week is to raise awareness about the impact of concussions and bring attention to the
importance of concussion prevention. A concussion can occur as a result of a physical impact to the head
and/or body causing damage to the brain. Many people do not know that a concussion is actually
considered a traumatic brain injury (TBI). Following the event of a physical impact, the brain moves
inside the skull which causes damage to the tissue. This gives rise to symptoms such as dizziness,
headache, blurred vision, trouble thinking and other related symptoms. Brain Injury Canada (2023) states
that concussions are “the leading cause of death and disability in children, youth, and adults under 40.”
Additionally, the Public Health Agency of Canada (2023) reports that 40% of patients seeking medical
attention for concussions are between the ages of 5 and 19. However, TBI affects all age groups and
everyone is susceptible to experiencing a concussion in their lifetime.
Concussion Awareness Week works to educate the general public about signs, symptoms and risks
associated with concussions. Furthermore, this week aims to encourage better management of TBI for
both short-term and long-term symptoms.
Parachute is a national organization created in 2012, supported by the Public Health Agency of Canada, to
prevent injury and increase awareness of the risks associated with concussions. Parachute has created the
Canadian Guideline on Concussion in Sport to better assist people associated with athletes including
parents, coaches, health care providers, and others involved in athletics.. This guideline ensures that the
public have access to information to assess and identify symptoms of a concussion. Additionally, the
Sport Information Resource Centre (SIRC) works to educate individuals about recognizing concussions
during sporting events using “The 4 R’s” method. This method uses the following framework to identify
and treat concussions in sports and recreation:
Step #1: Recognize the signs and symptoms
Step #2: Remove the athlete from play
Step #3: Refer to a licensed healthcare professional
Step #4: Return to play
These organizations are helping to shape the way TBI is treated in Canada and provide a better
understanding of concussions for the general public. This is also reflected in the passing of “Rowan’s
Law” in Ontario in 2016 following the death of Rowan Stringer who was a rugby player that suffered
from multiple concussions within the same week before passing away at the age of 17.
This legislation emphasizes education and proper management of concussions. “Rowan’s law” requires
organizations to provide information on concussions to athletes as well as coaches and parents promoting
accountability within organizations. It is important that sports and recreation continue to foster a culture
that prioritizes safety as well as athletic performance.
For more information:
https://www.coachesontario.ca/programs-resources/concussion/#jumplink_rowans_law
https://sirc.ca/concussion/the-4-rs-steps-to-a-safe-recovery/
https://parachute.ca/en/professional-resource/concussion-collection/canadian-guideline-on-concussion-insport/
https://www.canada.ca/en/public-health/news/2023/09/message-from-the-minister-of-health-and-the-mini
ster-of-sports-and-physical-activity-during-concussion-awareness-week.html
References:
Rachel. (2023, July 19). Call to action – classify TBI as a chronic condition. Brain Injury Canada.
https://braininjurycanada.ca/en/tbi-position-paper/
Canada, P. H. A. of. (2023, September 25). Message from the minister of health and the minister of
sports and physical activity during concussion awareness week. Message from the Minister
of Health and the Minister of Sports and Physical Activity during Concussion Awareness
Week – Canada.ca
