IT Sligo sponsors ABI wallet-sized information cards
IT Sligo has teamed up with Acquired Brain Injury Ireland (ABI) and several local sporting organisations in a bid to educate students, coaches, and medical professionals about the dangers of concussion.
As part of Physical Activity & Health Week at the Institute, Health & Safety Officer Lynda Feeney and the Institute’s Sports Development Officer Ross Lappin organised a Concussion Awareness event incorporating a lecture by ABI Communications executive Karen O’Boyle and Dr David Kelly.
Wallet-sized information cards sponsored by IT Sligo are also being distributed to hundreds of sports enthusiasts in a bid to help players and coaches recognise the signs of concussion and prompt them to take immediate action.
Ross Donovan, captain of the Sligo GAA football team, who attended the lecture, said education was crucial, given how physical the game has become.
“Concussion is a serious public health issue which needs to be taken more seriously,” Ms Feeney stressed. “If players don’t get medical help after experiencing concussion they could suffer serious cognitive impairment later in life”.
She pointed out that participation in physical activity has increased dramatically at IT Sligo in recent years with 25 teams, across a range of sports, involved in weekly matches. “Players are being encouraged to train more frequently, due to an increase in the number of competitions and intervarsity events and it is vital that their dedication doesn’t mean they ignore potentially dangerous injuries”.
Ross Donovan said ABI was working closely with the GAA on this issue. “The game has become more physical and players are taking harder hits,” he pointed out. “It is important that we players become aware of the impact of a concussion, and recognise the signs and symptoms so we know when we need to come off.”
He said players are sometimes reluctant to admit that they need to come off. “We might not always be fully honest about it; because of this it is up to coaches to be highly tuned into the injury, pulling a player out of the game once they notice any of the associated signs”.
The Concussion Awareness initiative was also welcomed by Sligo Rovers. Club promotions officer Keith O’Dwyer said greater awareness would lead to greater care for sports people at every level and also to prevention. “At Sligo Rovers we are always looking for ways to improve the welfare of our players and an initiative like this helps to create greater awareness among our players and supporters,” he added.
ABI spokeswoman Karen O’Boyle told the gathering that concussion, a physical injury to the brain caused by impact to the head, was a misunderstood injury and that players, coaches and parents needed to be educated about its possible consequences.
“Concussion is a manageable injury, just as any other injury is,” she stressed. “However it can cause both short-term and long-term problems when not managed effectively”
Ms O’Boyle warned that if players return to the field with a concussion “there is a risk of second impact syndrome, during which the brain swells rapidly, resulting in serious brain injury”.
She said it was vital that players, coaches, medical staff and even parents, at every level of sport, are aware of the signs and symptoms of concussion, and know exactly what to look out for in the hours of recovery after a hit. “For example, players should be on the alert if they experience nausea or feel unbalanced in the hours after suffering any impact to the head,” she pointed out.
As part of this educational initiative wallet-sized information cards sponsored by IT Sligo are being distributed to hundreds of sports enthusiasts in a bid to help players and coaches recognise the signs of concussion and prompt them to take immediate action. The “players’ pocket guide” urges coaches to be on the alert for warning signs such as players appearing dazed, confused, unsure about game details, or clumsy in their movements. Losing consciousness, however briefly, is a key tell-tale sign. The guide urges players to seek medical help if they experience headaches, nausea dizziness, double or blurry vision or sensitivity to light or noise after taking a knock to the head, and to also adhere to safe return-to-play guidelines.
For more information see www.abiireland.ie
Image Captions:
Above: Ross Donovan Sligo Senior Football team captain, Lynda Feeney, T Sligo Health and Safety officer and Karen O Boyle, Acquired Brian Injury Ireland Pictured at the launch of a Concussion Awareness Campaign at IT Sligo.
Below: Pictured at the launch of a Concussion Awareness Campaign at IT Sligo are (front row) Caroline Mc Grath –ABI Senior Clinical Neuropsychologist and Ross Lappin, IT Sligo Sport Development Officer. Back Row; Theresa O Boyle; ABI, Dr David Kelly; Ross Donovan Sligo Senior Football team captain; and Karen O Boyle –Acquired Brian Injury Ireland
