A Year in Review: 8 Major Accomplishments in 2016 to Improve Concussion Safety
By Holland Bloorview Kids Rehabilitation Hospital’s concussion centre
It has been one year since the Holland Bloorview’s concussion centre and the GTHL partnered to further concussion education, awareness and safety for the entire GTHL community. As we close out 2016, let’s look back at some of our major accomplishments.
- Together we created and implemented a new GTHL concussion policy for the 2016-2017 hockey season. The GTHL’s concussion policy is the most comprehensive concussion policy in Ontario for minor sports. It offers a unique evidence-based approach to concussion identification, management and recovery, and demonstrates the GTHL’s commitment to prioritizing the safety of its players. Find out more about the policy here.
- We provided concussion education to 1200 GTHL coaches and trainers. In August 2016, over a span of eight two-hour sessions, all 1200 GTHL trainers and coaches received mandatory concussion training for the 2016-2017 season. This included general concussion knowledge and information on how to use the new policy.
- 939 GTHL coaches and trainers participated in concussion research. During the August training sessions, 939 coaches and trainers completed a survey to help us learn what they currently know about concussion and how their knowledge, attitudes and practices in hockey may change over the next five years. This insight will help inform future concussion education efforts in sport. Learn more about Holland Bloorview’s concussion research here.
- We increased awareness of Holland Bloorview’s expert concussion services in the GTHL community. Players and parents are now more familiar with our services for concussion care, including our baseline testing program and our persistent symptoms clinic. They also know more about our ‘Concussion & You’ education and support sessions. Find out more about all of our concussion services here.
- Together we improved access to evidence-based concussion resources for all 40,000 members of the GTHL. GTHL and Holland Bloorview created a concussion resource page that helps streamline access to concussion information for all GTHL members. Information on our resource page includes the most up-to-date evidence-based guidelines, protocols and tools for pediatric concussion, in addition to engaging graphics and videos players and parents alike can use to learn more about concussions. Check out the concussion resource page on the GTHL website here.
- We delivered concussion education at 14 GTHL events. This year you could find our team of concussion experts at 14 different GTHL tournaments and community events. At these events we met with children, parents, and coaches to provide engaging and interactive concussion education. Learn more about our education sessions here.
- Together we launched the GTHL Junior Reporter video series. The GTHL Junior Reporter, Matthew Chiarotto, delivered five concussion awareness videos and counting to the world’s largest hockey league. In the series the Junior Reporter explores one of the first Canadian concussion centres dedicated entirely to kids. He also interviews teammates, coaches and one of the biggest names in Canadian hockey – Don Cherry. Check out the video series here.
- We wrote 15 concussion education columns. Our goal of providing important concussion information to all 40,000 members of the league is well underway. We wrote concussion education columns in GTHL breakout magazine, GTHL breakout express and on the GTHL website. Check out the GTHL website for some of our articles here.
Looking forward to next year:
It’s been a very successful year and we plan to build on this success as we head into 2017. Here’s a sneak peek of what you can expect from Holland Bloorview’s concussion centre next year:
- Working with the GTHL to move concussion research in hockey forward
- Creating a League-wide concussion awareness campaign
- Holding a tournament to fundraise for pediatric concussion research
- Hosting a summer student from the GTHL
Want to provide feedback on this partnership? We’d love to hear from you.
concussion@hollandbloorview.ca
