Safe Kids Week 2013

Heads Up! Be Alert. Be Safe. Be Aware of Concussions.

Safe Kids Week will take place May 27 to June 2, 2013.

It is not just professional athletes who are at risk of concussion. It can happen to anyone and not just during sporting activities.

Recent research looking at the incidence of concussions on a Canadian minor hockey team suggests that the rate of injury is as much as seven times greater than was previously thought. In fact, recent Public Health Agency of Canada data from 2010/2011 has demonstrated that more than 2,000 Canadians were hospitalized for concussion related injuries in that timeframe.

A concussion is a common form of head and brain injury, and can be caused by a direct or indirect hit to the head or body (for example, a car crash, fall or sport injury). This causes a change in brain function, which results in a variety of symptoms. With a concussion there is no visible injury to the structure of the brain, meaning that tests like MRI or CT scans usually appear normal.

Common symptoms of concussion are:

• Physical: headache, nausea or vomiting, dizziness, blurred vision, fatigue or low energy, sensitivity to light or noise, loss of consciousness.
• Cognitive (Thinking): general confusion, difficulty concentrating or remembering.
• Emotional: more emotional, irritability, sadness, nervousness or anxiety.

If you think you have a concussion you should remove yourself from the current activity and see a health care professional immediately.

Treatment:

The most important treatment is REST—both physical and mental. Adults and children should not play sports, exercise or participate in recreational activities and limit activities that require mental concentration. Be patient because healing takes time.

As a child's body grows, develops and changes, so does his/her brain. A brain injury during this stage of life may temporarily interfere with the way the brain works, and interrupt the development of critical cognitive and communication skills.

Don’t Hide it. Report it. Get a doctor to Check it Out. Take Care of Your Brain.

For more information about concussion visit: http://www.parachutecanada.org/programs/item/safe-kids-week-2013

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Media Contact: Colleen Cooper, RN, BScN, Public Health Nurse. Injury and Substance Misuse Program ccooper@regionofwaterloo.ca 519 883-2004 ext. 5324