Concussions continue to be a serious public health issue. Awareness on this issue can make a difference by helping individuals and communities understand how to prevent, recognize, and manage concussions and where to find credible information.
September 27 has been proclaimed Concussion Awareness Day in Saskatchewan and is part of a nationally coordinated effort to increase concussion awareness by sharing information and encouraging community action and involvement.
“Concussion awareness and prevention is important for everyone to achieve a healthy, active life,” said Minister of Parks, Culture and Sport Laura Ross. “Understanding what you can do to prevent concussions in your sport or activity, and what to do if a concussion does happen, can make a major difference in both recovery and safe returns to physical activities.”
Sask Sport and the Sport Medicine and Science Council of Saskatchewan will be hosting a 60-minute webinar on concussion management and returning to play on September 27 at 7 p.m.
The 60-minute webinar on concussion management and return to play will feature an expert sport medicine panel and Ben Coakwell, a three-time Olympic bobsledder and 2022 bronze medallist who will share his story about dealing with concussion management throughout his career. The webinar is geared toward athletes, coaches, parents and sports medicine practitioners.
“Sask Sport is proud to partner with the Sports Medicine and Science Council of Saskatchewan to bring awareness to concussion management,” said Chair of Sask Sport’s Board of Directors, Michael Rogers. “Concussions are an important medical topic for coaches, parents and athletes to understand and know how to handle. We have some of the top researchers and medical experts in the field in the province and we are grateful they are willing to partner to share their knowledge. This webinar will be strong learning opportunity for those involved sport.”
Returning to activities too quickly can slow recovery and bring on long-lasting effects. That is why it is so important to follow the gradual stages for return to school, work and sport.
“The Sport Medicine and Science Council of Saskatchewan is excited to partner in this initiative to continue on with our mandate of increasing awareness of all aspects of concussion with specific emphasis on prevention, identifying and diagnosing, and most importantly managing an individual with a concussion through the required steps involved in returning to play and learning,” Manager of Medicine Programs for the Sport Medicine and Science Council of Saskatchewan, Scott Julé explained. “Our hope is that participants of this webinar become aware that we have the resources and professionals within our membership that can ensure a proper recovery plan is established, activated, and monitored for a full recovery.”