Prevention and awareness-raising of the risks of mild traumatic brain injury or concussion

To develop or maintain a healthy and safe environment, each citizen and location needs to adopt a preventive approach. To do this, follow the procedure suggested below to reduce the risk of a mild traumatic brain injury (mTBI) or concussion.

Identify the nature of the risks associated with the situation or activity:

• falls, or collisions with objects
• collisions with another person
• authorized physical contacts
• authorized blows to the head (e.g. certain combat sports)

Analyze the risk of mTBI/concussion related to the situation or activity by considering:

• the physical environment (facilities, playgrounds, shared equipment, etc.)
• personal equipment (current standards, protective equipment, etc.)
• supervision (workplace health and safety standards, laws and regulations, game rules, severity of penalties, safety instructions, supervision, first aid services, refereeing, etc.)
• participants’ behaviour and attitudes (conditions for participation or for a return to work or school, compliance with game rules and safety instructions, etc.)

Verify if the situation is satisfactory or if preventive measures should be added to reduce the number or severity of mTBIs/concussions. Preventive measures should:

• be adapted to the context
• be concrete and efficient
• not change the nature of the activity or sport
• be personally, athletically, socially and economically viable

Pay attention to your own symptoms, but also those of other people who are participating in the activity. Monitoring is a responsibility that is shared by everyone present. Ask the person to stop doing the activity — or inform those with the authority to do so — in any one of the following situations:

• if the participant presents any concussion symptom(s)
• following an impact to the head or body, or a sudden movement of the head that could cause an mTBI/concussion, with or without immediate symptoms
• if there is any doubt regarding information provided by the participant
• if the person has a history of mTBI/concussion