Brave vs USA

StopConcussions was designed to educate players, administrators, physicians, coaches and officials on the cause, effects and consequences of concussions and neurotrauma injuries, not only in hockey but all sports. Brain and spinal cord injury result in life-changing consequences, and to date, no “standard of practice” has been implemented into the areas that have a higher frequency of serious injury such as hockey, football, rugby, and soccer.

Navigating concussion recovery can be an extremely challenging and isolating experience. As many as 20% of individuals who suffer a concussion will go on to experience persistent and potentially disabling symptoms lasting months and in some cases years – impairing performance at work, school, preventing return to sport, and ultimately reducing quality of life.

What’s more, 1 in 5 individuals may experience mental health symptoms that persist for months post-concussion. Challenges with depression, post-traumatic stress, anxiety, and substance abuse are not uncommon and can pose a significant barrier to recovery when left untreated.

Today kids play several sports that overlap seasons so it is so important we have a plan for dealing with concussions. Parents need support from the entire organization from each sport to deal with concussions. With heightened awareness we now have to all be on the same page. No longer is it left up to the player and the parent to fend for themselves. We now need coaches, trainers and family doctors working with them and add a concussion expert to make sure all aspects from detection, diagnosis to management of this invisible injury is in place. Baseline testing and tools in the toolbox are needed to make sure we do all we can to reduce the incidences of concussions.