Youth concussions – what is the right path?

Concussions are the most common type of brain injury, and more often than not are linked to sports and recreation activities among youth. 

Ontario was recently in the news when it became the first province to introduce concussion legislation for young athletes, and now some experts are looking to other provinces to follow suit. The legislation sets rules for when young athletes should be removed from a high-risk sport because of a suspected concussion, and requires athletes to get medical clearance before being allowed to return. 

BC’s health minister Terry Lake says BC won’t follow Ontario’s lead – at least not yet. Lake says he wants to focus on education first, and hear how educational programs here are working before opting for a law similar to the one introduced in Ontario. 

An online tool – the Concussion Awareness Training Tool (CATT) – is available to medical professionals, parents, coaches and players; one for schools is currently under development and should be available early next year. First introduced in 2013, CATT is the result of consultation between the province and the BC Concussions Advisory Network, and is gaining popularity among sports organizations and school districts. 

Dr Ian Gillespie, Doctors of BC representative to the BC Concussion Advisory Network, agrees more education is needed. “We need to realize that a concussion is the indication of a traumatic brain injury,” says Dr Gillespie, “and we need a more consistent assessment of such injuries.”

Media stories on this topic:

CBC – Ontario's proposed youth concussion law needed in B.C., says football association

Vancouver Sun – Concussion legislation not in B.C.’s immediate future