TORONTO - Two new resource guides have been developed by brain injury experts to educate Canadian kids and adults about concussions.
One guide is aimed at young people and the other at parents, teachers and coaches.
The idea is to set out in age-appropriate terms the warning signs of a concussion and how the brain injury should be treated.
The guides explain that concussions aren't minor injuries that can just be shaken off, but are potentially serious brain traumas that can have long-lasting repercussions.
A concussion is caused by an intense, rapid movement of the brain inside the skull, resulting in damage that changes how brain cells function.
Symptoms can include headaches, dizziness, and cognitive problems such as difficulty concentrating and memory loss.
There are also emotional effects, such as depression and irritability.
Dalhousie University psychiatrist Dr. Stan Kutcher, who is the principal author of the guides, says it's essential to know how best to help our brains grow and develop, and how best to take care of them.
The Brain Injury Guides were unveiled yesterday at the Hockey Hall of Fame in Toronto.
They are available online.
