The province of British Columbia has declared September 25 to October 1, 2022 as Concussion Awareness Week.

A concussion can happen to anyone, anywhere, and at any time. This year, the BC Injury Research and Prevention Unit will highlight concussion activities in BC and communicate concussion facts to increase British Columbians’ knowledge around concussion recognition, diagnosis, treatment, and management.

Concussion Activities in BC:

The Concussion Awareness Training Tool (CATT): A series of evidence-based online educational modules and resources addressing concussion recognition, diagnosis, treatment, and management. CATT has tailored information for eight different audiences: medical professionals, coaches, parents/caregivers, school professionals, workers and employers, those who work with survivors of intimate partner violence, university-level athletes, and youth engaged in sport. Each month, more than 8,000 people access the information on cattonline.com, and since 2013, the CATT e-learning modules have been completed 100,000+ times by people in more than 50 countries. More than 75 organizations have made it mandatory for their staff and coaches to complete the CATT e-learning modules. Learn more at cattonline.com.

SHRed Concussions Study: BCIRPU is the Vancouver site for this NFL-funded study led by the University of Calgary. SHRed Concussions seeks to better understand concussions in high-school athletes. Learn more about the SHRed Concussions study.

World Rugby Study: BCIRPU Director Dr. Ian Pike will lead the Vancouver study site on injuries and concussions in female youth rugby, as part of a large study funded by World Rugby that will take place across Canada and the United Kingdom.

Concussion Education in Africa: Dr. Shelina Babul returned from a productive and restful sabbatical in August 2022. Her activities included continuing her concussion education efforts in Africa.

The Dr. Brian Hunt Summer Studentship: BCIRPU is pleased to announce the Dr. Brian Hunt Summer Studentship Award. Starting in 2023, this short-term award will be offered to a student each summer to undertake a project related to concussions and traumatic brain injuries. The Award is named after Dr. Brian Hunt, a retired neurosurgeon from North Vancouver with decades of dedication and experience in dealing with brain injury, having worked with professional athletes including the Canadian Alpine Ski Team and the BC Lions.

Download the Concussion Awareness Week Campaign Toolkit to help us promote concussion education.

Quick Facts About Concussion:

• Concussion is a type of brain injury.
• It is estimated that 1 in every 165 Canadian adults suffer a concussion each year. This is considered to be an underestimate, as many people do not seek medical care for concussion.
• Common causes of concussion include falls, motor vehicle crashes, and sports and recreational activities.
• Signs and symptoms of a concussion can include headache, dizziness, nausea, light or sound sensitivity, ringing in the ears, irritability, fogginess, difficulty concentrating, or confusion.
• Signs and symptoms that are “Red Flags” indicating that immediate medical attention is required can include: loss of consciousness, persisting and worsening headache, slurred speech, repeated vomiting, and for toddlers, persistent crying.
• Recovery from concussion typically takes 4 weeks for adults.
• Concussion recovery starts with two days maximum of complete physical and cognitive rest, then a gradual return to normal levels of activity.
• Learn more about concussions on the Concussion topic page.