Holland Bloorview Teams Up with Soccer Groups to Raise Youth Concussion Awareness
By
Jessica Boafo
“We want to make sure that all kids have access to good follow-up care, because that’s really what matters here!” -Dr. Nick Reed
Toronto’s Holland Bloorview Kids Rehabilitation Hospital is joining forces with both grassroots and professional soccer organizations to raise awareness on brain injuries and youth soccer safety.
In an interview by the Global and Mail, Dr. Nick Reed claims that the collaboration between Holland Bloorview, Toronto FC of Major League Soccer, the Ontario Soccer Association and the Toronto Soccer Association is a commitment to ensuring a safer game for young participants.
The collaboration will focus on concussion education, strategies and awareness, and campaigns to align players, parents, coaches and trainers on the most up-to-date evidence and resources for concussion prevention, identification and management.
About 200,000 concussions are reported each year in Canada but it is likely much higher, as concussions are largely under reported, especially in regards to youth sports.
“We have done a pretty good job on the awareness around what a concussion is, what the signs and symptoms are, within the youth sports community but the questions remain; okay, now I know I have a concussion, what do I do next? That’s where we believe the gap in the knowledge exists.” -Dr. Nick Reed
The hospital’s commitment to the program with the OSA and the TSA is for three years.
