Brain Injury Awareness Month

June is Brain Injury Awareness Month - an annual public health campaign dedicated to educating the public about the prevalence of brain injuries, promoting prevention strategies, and supporting survivors and their families. (braininjurycanada.ca).

Regardless of how you are involved in sport, be it a coach, parent, administrator, or an athlete, brain injury and concussion protocols are important topics to keep top of mind. After all, you only get one brain. To help support Brain Injury Awareness Month, we've put our heads together to compile a collection of helpful resources.

1. Making Headway in Sport, as described on coach.ca, is the NCCP’s free online learning tool designed to help coaches gain the knowledge and skills required to ensure the safety of their athletes. After completing the NCCP Making Head Way in Sport module, you will understand how to prevent concussions; how to recognize the signs and symptoms of a concussion; what to do when you suspect an athlete has a concussion; and how to ensure athletes return to play safely. This module will leave you clear-headed about what to do if you think an athlete may have an injury.
2. Southern Alberta Brain Injury Society (SABIS) - While physically headquartered in Calgary, SABIS is the primary non-profit dedicated to supporting brain injury survivors and their families across Southern Alberta. They offer peer support groups, open-source education, and service coordination. They can help you wrap your brain around the supports available.
3. MyHealth.Alberta.ca: Early Concussion Education Learning Module - Alberta Health Services provides an free online tool specifically designed for Albertans. The "Early Concussion Education Learning Module" is an interactive digital resource for coaches, parents, and athletes. Your brain doesn't have to do all the heavy lifting—this learning module can help.
4. Brain Injury Alberta Portal - Brain Injury Alberta operates a centralized online directory that connects individuals, families, and community sports leagues with local acquired brain injury (ABI) service providers across the province. Checking it out is a no-brainer!

If you're wondering why brain injury awareness deserves a dedicated month, the numbers from Sports Medicine Council of Alberta tell a compelling story.

• 41 Albertans sustain a concussion each day. That is approximately 15,000 concussions per year being diagnosed in Alberta’s emergency departments.
• Alberta residents between the ages of 10 and 24 had the highest average number of concussion emergency department visits.
• Sports Related Concussions account for about 20% of all concussions with young adults having the highest rates of concussions.
• There is an estimated 1 in 5 lifetime risk of concussion, and children and adolescents account for over 50%

Sports Medicine Council of Alberta is also helping dispel the misconceptions surrounding concussions and brain injuries, and there are plenty of them. Here are a couple common myths—and the facts that set the record straight:

Myth - You must lose consciousness to have a concussion.

Fact - Most concussions involve disorientation, but not a loss of consciousness. In fact, loss of consciousness only happens around 10% of the time when a concussion occurs (always seek medical attention with loss of consciousness).

Myth - Concussions are only caused by a direct impact to the head.

Fact - A hit to the head is not the only way an individual can sustain a concussion. While direct blows to the head can cause concussions, a hit to the body or neck can also cause your brain to reverberate inside your skull.

Want to dispel more myths about concussions? Visit the SMCA Myth vs. Fact page.

We hope we've given you plenty to think about. Brain injuries and concussions can happen in any sport, at any level, but education and awareness can make a meaningful difference. This Brain Injury Awareness Month, take a few minutes to explore these resources, refresh your knowledge, and help create safer sport environments for everyone. Your brain will thank you.