Close X
Monday, November 11, 2024
ADVT 
National

Ontario Committee Will Examine Dangers Of Head Injuries, Concussions To Youth

Darpan News Desk, 11 Dec, 2015 10:54 AM
  • Ontario Committee Will Examine Dangers Of Head Injuries, Concussions To Youth
TORONTO — Ontario politicians will create a committee to examine the dangers of head injuries after the death of Rowan Stringer, an Ottawa teenager who lost her life after suffering multiple concussions from playing rugby.
 
A coroner's jury last June made 49 recommendations after investigating the 2013 death of Stringer, who died at age 17 of "second impact syndrome" caused by multiple concussions.
 
Progressive Conservative Lisa MacLeod secured all-party support for Rowan's Law to create an advisory committee to examine how to implement the recommendations from the coroner's inquest.
 
MacLeod also lined up medical professionals and experts in the field of head injuries to speak in favour of the motion, and said parents, coaches and young people must be taught to recognize the signs and know the dangers of concussions.
 
She says people across the country have expressed interest in Rowan's Law because of the growing knowledge and concerns about the dangers of concussions, especially among young people.
 
The medical experts agreed attitudes are changing, and say professional athletes must lead by example and not try to "play through" a head injury so younger people learn it's important to protect themselves.
 
"We're seeing elite athletes coming off the field and say: 'I'm not going to play any more,'" said Dr. Michael Strong, Dean of the Schulich School of Medicine at Western University. "When that message starts to come through more clearly, then I think we're going to have made a huge impact."
 
Kids who "get their bell rung" while playing a game should be examined by a doctor and not participate in sports for several weeks, added Strong.
 
Dr. Charles Taylor, a neurosurgeon who advised the coroner's jury, said Rowan's death was "entirely preventable," and praised her parents for fighting to make sure it doesn't happen to another teen.
 
"They took off like a rocket ship to make sure that never again will a youngster die playing sports because of insufficient knowledge among players, teachers, coaches and parents about the recognition and management of concussions," said Taylor. "This knowledge must reach the field, the rink and the classroom."
 
Dr. Lisa Fischer, a sports medicine specialist in London, Ont., said the majority of concussions she treats are in youth.
 
"There's been a lot of attention paid to elite athletes, but the real problem and the real focus needs to be on youth," said Fischer. 
 
"These kids are getting hurt and they don't understand concussions, they don't act on concussions or they ignore concussions, so teaching people how to recognize it and manage it early, I think will make a big difference."
 
An emotional MacLeod said Rowan's story is one that every parent in Ontario needs to be aware of, and thanked her parents, Gordon and Kathleen Stringer, for using their loss to help make the world safer for other kids.
 
"Their courage, their grace and eloquence throughout the tragedy of losing their beautiful daughter Rowan has not only been remarkable, but will undoubtedly result in real change," she said.
 
"In a cruel twist of fate Rowan died playing the sport she loved, but she saved other lives though by being an organ donor, and hopefully with the passage of this law she'll save even more."

MORE National ARTICLES

B.C. NDP Leader John Horgan Says Clear Vision Helping Party Expose Liberal Weaknesses

B.C. NDP Leader John Horgan Says Clear Vision Helping Party Expose Liberal Weaknesses
Horgan says he will continue to support energy alternatives to the Liberals' $9-billion Site C hydroelectric dam.

B.C. NDP Leader John Horgan Says Clear Vision Helping Party Expose Liberal Weaknesses

Canadian Health Care Wait Times Need Improvement, Fraser Institute Reports Say

Canadian Health Care Wait Times Need Improvement, Fraser Institute Reports Say
Two separate reports being released Tuesday have used different strategies to reach the same conclusion — Canada's health care wait times leave much to be desired.

Canadian Health Care Wait Times Need Improvement, Fraser Institute Reports Say

Justin Trudeau Liberals Planning To Give RCMP Right To Collective Bargaining

Justin Trudeau Liberals Planning To Give RCMP Right To Collective Bargaining
OTTAWA — RCMP officers would be allowed to engage in collective bargaining under legislation to be introduced by the Liberal government.

Justin Trudeau Liberals Planning To Give RCMP Right To Collective Bargaining

Sen. Mike Duffy Finally Takes To Witness Box To Testify In Own Defence

Sen. Mike Duffy Finally Takes To Witness Box To Testify In Own Defence
OTTAWA — Sen. Mike Duffy has finally begun testifying in his own defence against 31 charges of fraud, breach of trust and bribery.

Sen. Mike Duffy Finally Takes To Witness Box To Testify In Own Defence

Physician, Heal Thyself: MDs Willing To Help Patients Die May Face Emotional Fallout

Physician, Heal Thyself: MDs Willing To Help Patients Die May Face Emotional Fallout
In just weeks, barring an extension from the Supreme Court that would alter the timetable, Canadian doctors will enter a new era in the practice of medicine — one that gives them the legal right to help patients with unbearable suffering to end their lives.

Physician, Heal Thyself: MDs Willing To Help Patients Die May Face Emotional Fallout

Liberals Launch First Phase Of Inquiry Into Missing, Murdered Indigenous Women

Liberals Launch First Phase Of Inquiry Into Missing, Murdered Indigenous Women
OTTAWA — The federal Liberal government is kicking off what it calls the first phase of its inquiry into the tragic phenomenon of missing and murdered indigenous women and girls.

Liberals Launch First Phase Of Inquiry Into Missing, Murdered Indigenous Women