Brain injury charity Headway Suffolk has asked local sports clubs to ‘be concussion aware’ as part of a new national campaign launched this week during Action for Brain Injury Week.
“Sport plays a key role in keeping us fit and healthy,” said Helen Fairweather, Chief Executive of Headway Suffolk. “At Headway, we want to ensure that everyone is able to enjoy sport, while being better protected from the risks of concussion.
“A great deal has been achieved in the past few years to improve concussion protocols, with the emphasis being placed on elite-level sport to set a good example for others to follow.
“But we believe everyone who plays sport should be concussion aware – particularly those at grassroots level who are playing purely for the love of it and do not have ambulances and doctors on standby should something go wrong.
“We hope that through this campaign, we can encourage sports clubs, schools, colleges and universities in our region to ensure their members or pupils are aware of concussion and sign up to an ‘if in doubt, sit it out’ approach.”
Sports clubs and academic institutions have access to a range of materials, including a factsheet giving advice about concussion, posters to display both online and in changing rooms, and a digital stamp to demonstrate the club has adopted a responsible approach to concussion.
In the meantime, Headway Suffolk is inviting sports clubs to register interest in supporting the campaign or fundraising for the charity during Action for Brain Injury Week.
For further information on the campaign, visit www.concussionaware.org.uk or to find out how you can support Headway Suffolk during Action for Brain Injury Week and beyond, call 01473 712225 or e-mail [email protected].
IN THE MEDIA
ITV Anglia News covered Concussion Aware on their programme aired on 13 May.
BBC Radio Suffolk covered Concussion Aware as morning lead story on 9 May.
LISTEN at: www.bbc.co.uk/programmes/p03s82p2
Hear from East of England Ambulance Trust (38mins), Bury St Edmunds Rugby Club (107mins) and our CEO Helen Fairweather (209mins).
The East Anglia Daily Times covered rugby’s support of Concussion Aware on 10 May.
Read the double-page article by clicking this link with input from rugby clubs in Ipswich and Bury St Edmunds, as well as King Edward VI school in Bury St Edmunds.
Action for Brain Injury week saw us raise awareness of brain injury, concussion and the work of Headway with pupils and staff of Broke Hall Community Primary School in Ipswich.
The large, friendly school has 650 pupils and over 100 staff. Click here for their website.