Press Release
Ontario is taking strong action to address concussions inside and outside of the classroom
New legislation, to be introduced today, would help protect students engaging in school sports and health and physical education classes from the potentially serious, long-term, and harmful effects of concussions.
It also would ensure students who sustain concussions are not returning to play or learn too soon, risking further complications.
The Education Amendment Act (Concussions), 2012 is part of a new concussion strategy that will:
•provide resources to parents, teachers, and school staff about the seriousness of concussions;
•build awareness beyond schools about the dangers of concussions and how they should be managed; and
•establish a committee to provide advice on concussion prevention, identification, and management in schools and to study how evidence-based resources can be best used.
“Everyone—students, parents, teachers, coaches, and volunteers—has a role to play to help prevent and manage concussions,” said Education minister Laurel Broten.
“To ensure our students succeed, we all need to be aware of how to prevent and identify a possible concussion,” she added.
“As a brain surgeon who sees many school kids and youths with concussions and other brain injuries in my practice, I am very proud that the government of my province will be the first in Canada to introduce legislation designed to improve the recognition and management of concussions in schools,” said Charles H. Tator, Professor of Neurosurgery, University of Toronto, and Toronto Western Hospital, Founder, ThinkFirst Foundation.
“This legislation would help to prevent some concussions from happening, and would also improve the management of those who have had a concussion,” he noted.
