Concussions

Firebird’s Concussion Prevention and Management Procedure
Purpose:
To ensure the safety of participants in Firebird Community Cycle programs and facilities, along with staff and volunteers, by creating awareness of the signs, symptoms and potential severity of concussions.
Definitions:
A concussion:
 Is a brain injury that causes changes in how the brain functions, leading to symptoms that can be physical (e.g., headache, dizziness), cognitive (e.g., difficulty concentrating or remembering), emotional/behavioural (e.g., depression, irritability) and/or related to sleep (e.g., drowsiness, difficulty falling asleep);
 may be caused either by a direct blow to the head, face or neck, or a blow to the body that transmits a force to the head that causes the brain to move rapidly within the skull;
 can occur even if there has been no loss of consciousness (in fact most concussions occur without a loss of consciousness); and,
 cannot normally be seen on X-rays, standard CT scans or MRIs.
(Reference: Government of Ontario, Ministry of Tourism, Culture and Sport website: http://www.health.gov.on.ca/en/publ… mtcs_concussion_guide_en.pdf)
Procedure:
Firebird Community Cycle aims to create concussion awareness and protection by doing the following:
 Conduct ongoing awareness and education to participants and clients, which may include posting flyers and information brochures within Firebird Community Cycle facilities, and requiring proper use of safety equipment (i.e. helmets);
 Provide training to Firebird Community Cycle staff to recognize the signs and symptoms of potential concussions, advising potential concussion sufferers to seek medical attention and how to document these injuries;
 In the event that a participant in our programs or facilities experiences a minor head injury, Firebird staff will provide first aid, document the incident and will notify a parent/guardian where applicable;
 In the event that a participant in our programs or facilities experiences a major head injury, major bodily injury or possible concussion, Firebird staff will call 9-1-1, administer first aid, conduct a primary and secondary assessment of the individual, contact parent/guardian where applicable and will recommend the participant goes to their family doctor, or goes to the hospital;
 Firebird staff do not have the medical expertise to diagnose concussions, but will strongly encourage participants to seek medical evaluation from a doctor as soon as possible when staff suspect the participant has suffered a concussion.
January,  2018