Did you know?
National Concussion Awareness Week in Canada will take place from Sunday, September 27 to Saturday October 3. This initiative aims to improve public awareness around concussion prevention, recognition, and proper management
In this week’s column, I’ll be sharing some invaluable information on concussion awareness, courtesy of Parachute Canada and the Ministry of Sport of Ontario.
Concussion = Brain injury
A concussion is a brain injury that can’t be seen on X-rays, CT scans or MRIs. It can change how someone thinks, feels, acts, and remembers, leading to all sorts of symptoms.
What causes a concussion?
A concussion can happen from any direct hit to the head, face, or neck, or a heavy jolt to the body. Whether it is a sports collision, a stray ball, or a fall from an unhelmeted e-bike or bicycle, etc. any severe jarring of the head puts you at risk. As well, a concussion can happen to anyone, anywhere, including:
- At home, school or your workplace.
- Following a vehicle, bike or pedestrian collision.
- From participating in games, sports or other physical activity.
Additionally, a concussion is a serious injury. While the effects are typically short-term, a concussion can lead to long-lasting symptoms and even long-term effects.
Signs and symptoms of a concussion
A person does not need to be knocked out (lose consciousness) to have a concussion; they might experience one or more of the following:
Cognitive (Thinking)
- Does not know the time, date, place, details about a recent activity.
- Difficulty remembering things that happened before and after the injury.
- Difficulty concentrating.
- Not thinking clearly.
- Feeling like in a fog.
Physical
- Headache or head pressure.
- Dizziness.
- Stomach ache, nausea, vomiting.
- Blank or vacant stare.
- Blurred or fuzzy vision.
- Sensitive to light or sound.
- Sees stars, flashing lights.
- Ringing in the ears.
- Problems with balance or coordination.
- Feeling tired or no energy.
- Does not feel right.
Emotional/Behavioural
- Nervousness or anxiety.
- Strange or inappropriate emotions (e.g. laughing , crying, getting mad easily).
- Slow to answer questions or follow directions.
- Easily distracted.
- Not participating well.
- Changes in sleep patterns (sleeping more or less than usual).
What to do if you suspect a concussion
In all suspected cases of someone having a concussion, they must stop all activity immediately. Early medical assessment is essential; they need to be evaluated by a medical professional as soon as possible.
Red flags: When to get emergency help
Seek immediate medical help if you notice any of these serious “RED FLAG” symptoms; they could indicate a more severe injury:
- Neck pain or tenderness.
- Double vision.
- Weakness of tingling in arms or legs.
- Severe or increasing headache.
- Seizure or convulsion.
- Loss of consciousness (knocked out).
- Deteriorating conscious state.
- Vomiting more than once.
- Increasingly restless, agitated or combative.
- Growing confusion.
Concussion prevention
- Find out what you can do to prevent concussions in your sport or activity and know what to do if a concussion does happen.
- Learn the signs and symptoms of a concussion to help recognize when someone might have a concussion.
- Not all people will show the same signs and symptoms, and they can show up hours after the injuries.
Remember, taking the time to learn and practice injury prevention costs you nothing. Failing to do so, could lead to the unthinkable… the loss of your life and the lives of those you hold dear.
Safety—it starts with you.
