What can you do to prevent a concussion?

Concussion is a common injury in kids. Here are some tips to decrease the risk concussion for your child:

• Follow the rules of the game and the rules of the road. They are there for everyone’s safety.
• Familiarize yourself and your loved ones with the signs and symptoms of a concussion. Keep in mind that signs and symptoms vary widely and may appear up to 48 hours following the injury.
• Have an open and frank discussion with your children about concussions and the urgency of reporting them.
• If you think that a person may have suffered a concussion, you should immediately remove the person from the activity and ensure that they are assessed by a health care provider.

At Home

Falls at home are one of the most common causes of concussion in young children.

• Watch young children closely.
• Use safety products such as window guards and safety gates where appropriate.
• Use non-slip mats in high traffic areas like the kitchen and bathroom.

At Play

Help reduce the likelihood of injury during sports, recreation and unstructured play.

• Encourage children to learn proper sports skills and techniques to protect themselves.
• Ensure children wear the proper and correctly fitted protective equipment.
• Choose a playground with a deep soft surface.
• Keep children under five years of age from equipment higher than 1.5 metres (5 feet)
• Talk to the coach and find out if they have a concussion identification and management protocol. If the coach doesn’t know, approach the sport association and suggest developing a protocol. The Porcupine Health Unit can help sport and recreation organizations to develop a comprehensive concussion protocol.

On the Road

While riding in a car:

• Use the correct car or booster seat for the size and age of your child.
• Ensure the car or booster seat is properly installed.
• Visit one of our free car seat inspection clinics.

While walking:

• Take the time to teach your children how to cross the road safely.
• Walk on the sidewalks or paths. Where none exist, walk facing the traffic.
• Phone down, heads up when walking.
• Teach kids to be alert and always make eye contact with drivers when crossing a road.

While cycling or doing other wheeled activities (e.g., skateboard, scooter):

• Teach your child appropriate hand signals, staying on the right side of the road, stopping at all stop signs and respecting other traffic signals.
• Ensure the bicycle is adjusted to the recommended height of your child. Remember to check the ABCs (air pressure, brakes and chain).
• Wear a properly fitted helmet and any safety gear such as reflectors and bell.
• Ensure your child’s helmet is properly secured using the 2-V-1 rule.
• Model the behaviour you want your child to adopt by wearing a helmet when doing activities such as biking, snowboarding, etc.