According to the Government of Canada, more than half (64%) of child and youth injuries that send them to the hospital are the result of a concussion.
This week, the Minister of Health, Ginette Petitpas Taylor, announced the launch of two new concussion-related projects.
Federal funding will go towards SCHOOLFirst and the PACE mobile app.
Funding for 2 new concussion projects: SCHOOLFirst & PACE mobile app, announced today! @Rob_Oliphant @GPTaylorMRD https://t.co/2ZpTsoAjSS pic.twitter.com/gc5zIY0AzQ
— Holland Bloorview (@HBKidsHospital) November 3, 2017
The Public Health Agency of Canada has invested $125,000 in Holland Bloorview hospital's SCHOOLFirst project and $120,000 in CITI BC's PACE app.
The SCHOOLFirst project provides the latest information to teachers and school boards across Canada on best practices for concussions.
The Progressive Action and Concussion Education (PACE) app will be a tool to help parents manage their child's concussion.
"Canadian parents and teachers need access to the tools and knowledge necessary to help prevent concussions and to carefully manage them when they do occur," said Minister Petitpas Taylor.
This funding comes after Canada released its first Canadian Guideline on Concussion in Sport on July 28th, 2017.
The guideline uses science-based evidence to help diagnose, manage and treat concussions.
"We want to help make sport, physical activity and recreation safer for our children and athletes," said Petitpas Taylor.
The guideline is recommended for anyone who works with athletes, including coaches, trainers, teachers, parents and healthcare professionals.
Sport-related concussions is a hot topic of discussion and is now a recognized public health problem.
Concussions can occur frequently with athletes and can also have either short or long-term consequences.
Data on concussion and brain injuries in children and youth shows that ice hockey is the most common cause for concussions among males and soccer is the most common cause for females.
However, for children under the age of 10, playground equipment is the most common cause of concussion among boys and girls.
For more information on sports-related concussions, visit the Government of Canada's website.
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