New mobile technology could help save lives, prevent long-term damage
It is estimated that over 155,000 Canadians suffered concussions in 2014. Concussion Ed seeks to help fill a much needed information gap by providing users with interactive resources and tools around how to prevent, recognize and manage concussions, including when to see a doctor and guidelines for returning to sports and learning activities. Led by Parachute, the app was developed under the guidance of its Expert Advisory Committee and with members from the Canadian Concussion Collaborative to select relevant, evidence-based material.
Concussion Ed was funded by the Public Health Agency of Canada and builds on the Budget 2016 commitment to harmonize concussion management guidelines across Canada, focusing on athlete and student return-to-play and return-to-learn protocols.
The app is available for free in the Apple App Store as well as Google Play for Android devices, with a web-based version available at www.parachutecanada.org.
Quick Facts
- Concussions in sport are a recognized public health problem because of their frequency of occurrence and their potential short- and long-term consequences. These include cognitive, emotional and physical symptoms, and when left undetected, even death.
- More than 50% of child and youth injuries treated in emergency departments are sports and recreation-related, with concussions being among the most common type.
- Football, soccer and hockey have all shown a greater than 40% increase in rates of reported head injury (relative to other injuries) between 2004 and 2014 for children and youth.
- The Government of Canada is investing $294,000 in this project through the Innovation Strategy.