Statement by Ministers Philpott and Qualtrough on the release of the Berlin Consensus Statement on Concussion in Sport

OTTAWA, May 5, 2017 /CNW/ - The Government of Canada is committed to supporting and encouraging Canadians, especially our children and youth, to participate in sport, physical activity and recreation and to enjoy the benefits of active play, exercise and teamwork throughout their lives.

On behalf of all Canadians, we welcome the recent release of the Berlin Consensus Statement on Concussion in Sport. The guidelines outlined in the Consensus Statement were developed by international experts, including Canadian representatives, at the Fifth International Consensus Conference on Concussion in Sport, which took place in Berlin, Germany, in October 2016.

Through initiatives such as the development of the Canadian Concussion Guidelines, the Government of Canada is supporting and encouraging Canadians to be safe and active when participating in physical activity, sport and recreation.

At the same time, we recognize that individuals can experience concussions during sport, physical activity and recreation. Concussions – especially among young people – are a serious public health issue because of their frequency and potential for serious short- and long-term consequences on brain health. Our goal is to help to make sport, physical activity and recreation activities safer for all Canadians, and to reduce the health risks associated with concussions when they happen. We want to raise awareness amongst children, youth, parents, coaches and teachers of the importance of safe play and ways to reduce the risk of injuries, such as concussions.

In October 2016, Parachute Canada established an Expert Advisory Committee on Concussions comprising experts in concussion prevention, treatment and research. The recently published Berlin Consensus Statement will be used to inform the Committee's work to develop Canadian Concussion Guidelines. The Committee will also propose universal return-to-learn and return-to-play protocols with the goal of getting children, youth and athletes safely back into the classroom and to sport, physical activity and recreation after a concussion.

We are proud to be working with experts, including Ministers of Sport, Physical Activity and Recreation and the Federal/Provincial-Territorial working group on Concussions in Sport, to ensure safe and inclusive environments for physical activity, recreation and play for our children, youth and athletes of all levels. Together, we can create an environment that facilitates the awareness, prevention, detection, management and surveillance of concussions in Canada.

Associated Links
Concussions
Toward a National Strategy on the Treatment of Concussions in Sport
Federal Minister of Health launches mobile concussions app
Government takes action to develop national guidelines for concussion management

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SOURCE Public Health Agency of Canada

(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