GOVERNMENT OF ONTARIO

CONCUSSION
AWARENESS RESOURCE

E-BOOKLET: AGES 15 AND UP

 Preventing injuries is important to keeping people active throughout
their lives. Some injuries are easy to see and treat but what about an
injury inside the head? Brain injuries, such as concussions, don’t show
on the outside and are not always obvious. Even when you can’t see
the injury, a person with a concussion still feels the effects and needs
the proper care to get better.

This resource will help you learn more about concussions so you can
keep yourself and others active and safe – whether you’re an athlete,
student, parent, coach, official or educator.

Concussion Awareness Resource:

Ages 15 and Up
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 WHAT IS A CONCUSSION?

A concussion is a brain injury. It can’t be seen on X-rays, CT scans or MRIs.

It may affect the way a person thinks, feels and acts.

Any blow to the head, face or neck may cause a concussion. A

concussion may also be caused by a blow to the body if the force of the
blow causes the brain to move around inside the skull. Examples include
being hit in the head with a ball or falling hard onto the floor.

A concussion is a serious injury. While the effects are typically short-term,

a concussion can lead to long-lasting symptoms and even long-term
effects, such as memory problems or depression.

Concussion Awareness Resource:

Ages 15 and Up
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 PREVENTING A CONCUSSION

First, educate yourself about concussions.

You should also:

• Ensure you/your athletes use

equipment that is in good
condition;

• Ensure you/athletes you are

supervising wear sports
equipment that fits properly;

• Ensure you/your athletes

respect the rules of the sport; • Commit to your sport organiza-
tion/school’s Concussion Code
of Conduct and make sure your
athletes do too; and

• Promote a safe and comfort-

able environment for everyone
to report injuries. Make sure
everyone understands the risks
of not speaking up.

Concussion Awareness Resource:

Ages 15 and Up
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 RECOGNIZING A CONCUSSION

Everyone can help recognize a possible concussion if they know what to

look and listen for.

A person with a concussion might have one or more of the signs or

symptoms listed below. They might show up right away or hours, even
days, later. Just one sign or symptom is enough to suspect a concussion.
Most people with a concussion do not lose consciousness.

Concussion Awareness Resource:

Ages 15 and Up
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 RECOGNIZING A CONCUSSION

Common signs and symptoms of a concussion:

PHYSICAL: EMOTIONAL:

• Headache • Irritability (easily upset or angered)

• Pressure in the head • Depression

• Dizziness • Sadness

• Nausea or vomiting • Nervous or anxious

• Blurred vision

• Sensitivity to light or sound

COGNITIVE (THINKING):

• Ringing in the ears • Not thinking clearly

• Balance problems • Slower thinking

• Tired or low energy • Feeling confused

• Drowsiness • Problems concentrating

• “Don’t feel right” • Problems remembering

SLEEP-RELATED:

• Sleeping more or less

than usual
• Having a hard time falling
asleep

Concussion Awareness Resource:

Ages 15 and Up
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 RECOGNIZING A CONCUSSION

RED FLAGS:

“Red flags” may mean you have a more serious injury. Treat
red flags as an emergency and call 911.

• Neck pain or tenderness

• Double vision

• Weakness or tingling in arms or legs

• Severe or increasing headache

• Seizure or convulsion

• Loss of consciousness (knocked out)

• Vomiting more than once

• Increasingly restless, agitated or aggressive

• Getting more and more confused

Concussion Awareness Resource:

Ages 15 and Up
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 WHAT TO DO NEXT?

If you suspect a concussion, remove yourself or the person you are

supervising from the activity right away. Continuing to participate puts
you or the person with a suspected concussion at risk of more severe,
longer-lasting symptoms. Call the parent/guardian (for athletes under 18
years of age) or emergency contact. Don’t leave anyone with a suspected
concussion alone.

Anyone who has been removed from sport with a suspected concussion
should see a physician or nurse practitioner as soon as possible. That
person should not return to unrestricted participation in training, practice
or competition until they have received medical clearance.

Concussion Awareness Resource:

Ages 15 and Up
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 GETTING BETTER

Most people with a concussion do activities that may make

get better in one to four weeks. their symptoms worse. This may
Some people take longer. Each mean limiting activities such
concussion is unique – don’t as exercising, screen time or
compare one person’s recovery schoolwork.
to another’s.
Healing from a concussion is
It’s possible for a concussion to a process that takes patience.
have long-term effects. People Rushing back to activities can
may experience symptoms, make symptoms worse and
such as headaches, neck pain recovery longer.
or vision problems, that last for
months, or even years. Some Anyone who has a concussion
may have lasting changes in their should let others know. This
brain that lead to issues such includes parents, all sport teams/
as memory loss, concentration clubs, schools, coaches and
problems or depression. In rare educators.
cases, a person who suffers
And remember, returning to
multiple brain injuries without
school comes before returning to
healing in between may develop
unrestricted sport.
dangerous swelling in their brain,
a condition known as second
impact syndrome, that can result
in severe disability or death.

While a person is recovering

from a concussion, they shouldn’t

Concussion Awareness Resource:

Ages 15 and Up
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 RETURNING TO
SCHOOL AND SPORT
Athletes and students who are activity. Contact the school for
diagnosed by a physician or more information.
nurse practitioner as having
a concussion must proceed The Return-to-Sport Protocol
through their sport organization’s Most return-to-sport protocols
return-to-sport protocol and/or, suggest that athletes should rest
where applicable, their school for 24 to 48 hours before starting
board’s return-to-school plan. any gradual return to sport.
An athlete must not resume
Athletes and students should
unrestricted participation in
work with their healthcare
training, practice or competition
professional and sport
until they have received medical
organization/school to establish
clearance.
their individual plans to return to
sport as well as return to school.

The Return-to-School Plan

(Learning and Physical Activity)

Students in elementary and

secondary school will need to
follow their school board’s return-
to-school plan, which supports
a student’s gradual return to
learning and return to physical

Concussion Awareness Resource:

Ages 15 and Up
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 RETURNING TO
SCHOOL AND SPORT

The table below provides a list of steps and activities that are commonly found in
most return-to-sport protocols and return-to-school plans.

Table: Common Steps in Graduated Return-to-Sport Protocols

Step Aim Activities Goal of Step

1 Symptom-limiting Daily activities that don’t make Gradual re-introduction of daily
activities symptoms worse, such as moving school and work activities
around the home and simple chores

2 Light aerobic activity Light activities that increase the Increase heart rate
heart rate just a little, such as walking
or a stationary bicycle for
10 to 15 minutes

3 Sport-specific exercise Individual physical activity such as Add movement

running or skating

No contact or head impact activities

4 Non-contact training, Harder training drills Exercise, co-ordination

practice, drills and increased thinking
Add resistance training
(if appropriate)

5 Unrestricted practice Unrestricted practice - with contact Restore confidence and assess
where applicable functional skills

6 Return to sport Unrestricted game play

or competition

Medical clearance is always required prior to the athlete’s return to

unrestricted practice, training or competition.
Check with your sport club and school for the specific steps that you should follow.

Concussion Awareness Resource:

Ages 15 and Up
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 RETURNING TO
SCHOOL AND SPORT

An athlete is typically ready to progress to the next step when they

can do the activities at their current step without new or worsening
symptoms. If at any step symptoms get worse, they should stop
and go back to the previous step. Each step should take at least 24
hours to complete. If symptoms do not improve or if the symptoms
continue to worsen, the athlete should return to the physician or
nurse practitioner.

Concussion Awareness Resource:

Ages 15 and Up
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 REMINDER

Remember:

1. Recognize signs and symptoms of a concussion and remove

yourself or the athlete from the sport/physical activity, even if you
feel OK or they insist they are OK.

2. Get yourself/the athlete checked out by a physician or nurse

practitioner.

3. Support gradual return to school and sport.

Concussion Awareness Resource:

Ages 15 and Up
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 Rowan Stringer

This e-booklet is part of a series of Rowan’s Law concussion awareness

resources. Rowan’s Law was named for Rowan Stringer, a high school
rugby player from Ottawa, who died in the spring of 2013 from a condition
known as second impact syndrome (swelling of the brain caused by a
subsequent injury that occurred before a previous injury healed). Rowan
is believed to have experienced three concussions over six days while
playing rugby. She had a concussion but didn’t know her brain needed
time to heal. Neither did her parents, teachers or coaches.

These resources are not intended to provide medical advice relating to

health care. For advice on health care for concussion symptoms, please
consult with a physician or nurse practitioner.