Concussion Awareness and Education Strategies

This section is intended to assist school boards with their requirements to:

• provide annual concussion training for relevant school staff,
• use and make available concussion awareness resources,
• receive confirmation of review of the concussion awareness resources by individuals involved in interschool athletics,
• connect student learning about concussions with the curriculum (where relevant), and
• include implementation plans for an annual concussion awareness event for students, to be held on or around Rowan's Law Day (last Wednesday in September).

(Refer to School Board Policies on Concussion (PPM158) for the specific policy requirements.)

Annual Concussion Training
When educating school staff responsible for student safety about concussions the scope of training should align with their expected duties as outlined in school board policy. Concussion training could include:

• the definition of concussion;
• possible mechanisms of injury;
• common signs and symptoms;
• steps to prevent concussions and other injuries from occurring in school-sponsored activities (this should include reviewing the interschool Code of Conduct, if applicable);
• what to do when a student has suffered a suspected concussion or a more serious head injury, and/or;
• measures to ensure proper medical assessment and medical clearance.

E-Learning Module
Ophea’s Concussion Prevention, Identification, and Management for Schools e-Learning Module is intended to assist school boards in fulfilling their responsibility related to concussion awareness training for relevant school staff (e.g., educators, administrators, support staff, occasional teachers). The focus of this e-learning module is to increase awareness and understanding of concussions and of the appropriate methods and strategies to be used for their identification and management. The module also includes strategies and resources to assist in concussion prevention, awareness, and education.