Concussions

What is a concussion?

A concussion is a brain injury. It occurs when a sudden impact or jolt to the head or body causes the brain to move within the skull. It can change the way the brain functions and how a person thinks and remembers. For more information on concussions, signs, and symptoms, visit Parachute.

How to reduce the risk of concussion

Ways to help reduce the risk of concussion include player and coach education, wearing protective equipment such as helmets, and setting rules of conduct in sport. Doing so may help reduce incidents that may result in concussion such as fall, collisions, and abrupt trauma. For more information on prevention visit, Parachute.

What you should do if you suspect a concussion

If you suspect you have a concussion, see your health care provider as soon as possible for a medical assessment. A concussion cannot be seen on an x-ray, MRI, or CT scan. Only a medical doctor or nurse practitioner can diagnose a concussion.

I have a concussion: what should I do?

School-aged youth

If a child has a concussion, follow this concussion strategy (Parachute) (PDF, 48.7KB). The return to school strategy is a visual tool (PDF, 473KB) that was developed for parents and caregivers to help children return to regular school activities.

Athletes

Rowan’s Law, helps protect amateur athletes in sport (public and private clubs, post-secondary institutions, and municipalities) and school settings across Ontario. The law requires that if a student or athlete has a concussion or a suspected concussion, they must be removed from participating in their respective sport. This includes removal from training, practice, and competition. The student or athlete can only return-to-sport after they have been medically assessed (Government of Ontario) and cleared to return to training, practice, and competition by a physician or nurse practitioner (Government of Ontario). The obligation rests with the student or athlete or parent or guardian (if the student or athlete is under the age of 18 years) to provide proper documentation to the school or sport organization when the student or athlete is medically cleared to return to sport. Additional information regarding return to sport can be found on Parachute’s website.

Work

If diagnosed with a concussion, you should work with a medical professional to understand how to safely return to activities by following Parachute’s return-to-work strategy (PDF, 198 KB).

More information on concussions

This item was last modified on October 18, 2024