Statement by Ministers Philpott and Qualtrough on the Canadian Guideline on Concussion in Sport

WINNIPEG, July 28, 2017 /CNW/ - Today, we are very pleased to announce the release of the Canadian Guideline on Concussion in Sport.

Concussions are a serious public health issue. They are brain injuries that can result in short- and long-term effects on brain health, especially among young people. More than 40% of child and youth injuries treated in emergency departments are sports- and recreation-related, and concussions are among the most common. We share a commitment to helping Canadians stay safe while enjoying an active, healthy lifestyle and the lifelong benefits that go along with sport and physical activity. This is why the Government of Canada is committed to raising awareness about the importance of safe play and promoting ways to reduce the risk of concussions.

Funded by the Government of Canada, the Canadian Guideline on Concussion in Sport uses current scientific evidence to help guide decisions on diagnosing, managing and treating concussions. Anyone who interacts with athletes – be it coaches, trainers, educators, parents and healthcare professionals – should refer to this Guideline and make use of the tools it provides.

We would like to thank Parachute Canada, a national injury prevention organization, for spearheading this initiative. Parachute's Expert Advisory Committee on Concussion, which comprised of experts in concussion prevention, treatment and research, worked to develop this Guideline to support timely and effective care for athletes with a suspected concussion.  Parachute also worked with the Federal-Provincial/Territorial Work Group on Concussions in Sport to ensure an inclusive, harmonized approach to the Guideline.

The new Guideline is an essential first step in Canada's approach to managing concussions, but there is more work to be done. We look forward to Parachute Canada's "Return-to-Learn" and "Return-to-Play" concussion protocols to ensure that our young athletes can safely return to the classroom and to sport, physical activity and recreation following a concussion.

Promoting a culture of safety in sport means raising awareness amongst all Canadians, focusing on prevention of injuries and reducing concussions in sport, and effectively managing concussions when they do occur.

Associated Links
Concussions 
Toward a National Strategy on the Treatment of Concussions in Sport 
Federal Minister of Health launches mobile concussions app
Canadian Concussion Guideline

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SOURCE Public Health Agency of Canada

For more information (media only), please contact: Andrew MacKendrick, Press Secretary, Office of the Honourable Jane Philpott, Minister of Health, [phone]; Ashley Michnowski, Press Secretary, Office of the Honourable Carla Qualtrough, Minister of Sport and Persons with Disabilities, 613-697-8016, [email protected]; Media Relations, Public Health Agency of Canada, [phone]; Public Inquiries, [phone], 1-866-225-0709