New concussion tool for teachers helps youth recover

Teachers across Canada now have a new tool to help detect the signs of a concussion, and the lingering heath issues that can follow.

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The online Concussion Awareness Training Tool was developed bysports injury specialist Dr.ShelinaBabulat B.C. Children'sHospital.

"There's nothing like this out there,"Babulsaid in aninterview.

Stimulation from other students in the classroom, loud noises onthe playground and the stress of school work can trigger symptomsincluding headaches, dizziness and confusion,Babulsaid.

The resource provides recommendations on how to help students who suffer blows to the head, often from sports such as football, soccer andhockey.

The site, which includes videos with stars such as hockey playerSidneyCrosby, also features an 11-year-old boy named Christian, whodescribes the difficulty of returning to school.

"I hurt my brain last year," he says.

"I missed my friends but when I came back things were different.It was harder to concentrate and get my work done. I got frustrateda lot."

Be cautious after injury

Babulsaid parents and coaches should err on the side of cautionafter a child's head is hit or a concussion is suspected.

"Do not allow that individual to play for several days becausesigns and symptoms can appear subtly. A lot of times you'll see acoach or a parent pull their kid off to the sideline, they seem fineand they're put back in the game."

Symptoms such as headaches, nausea and sensitivity to noise andlight can occur immediately or after several hours or days, shesaid.

"The new and emerging signs are showing that after that a littlebit of slow integration back to activity may not be a bad thingbecause we were finding that complete rest, or the previous protocolto keep the person in a dark room, leads to other ailments or otherconditions such as anxiety, depression, sadness or sleeping toomuch."

Thewebsite, which was developed with funding from B.C.'s HealthMinistry, Child Health BC and the BC Children's Foundation,initially provided concussion training for medical professionals in2013.

There are currently no figures on how many children suffer concussions across Canada, in any given year.

Canada's Minister of Sport, CarlaQualtrough, has said she will beworking with federal Health Minister JanePhilpottto create anational education and management strategy to better manage policiesaround concussions among youth and professional athletes.

With files from the CBC's The Early Edition and Jason D'Souza.

To hear the full story listen to the audio labelled:New concussion tool for teachers helps youth recover.