2019/20 Rowan's Law - Concussion Awareness Resource - Development, Tyke (Brantford Girls Hockey Association)

REMOVAL FROM PLAY PROTOCOL

The OWHA believes that the safety and health of hockey players is of paramount importance.

When an individual has suffered a suspected concussion, regardless of whether or not the concussion was sustained or is suspected of having been sustained during a sport activity associated with the OWHA, the following steps must be taken:

• Any hockey player who suffers a suspected concussion must stop participation in the hockey activity immediately. If there is doubt as to whether a concussion has occurred, it is to be assumed that it has.

• If an athlete is suspected of having a sustained a concussion, the protocol must require a designated person to call 9-1-1 if, in the designated person’s opinion, doing so is necessary.

• The OWHA team/association must require make and keep records of all incidences where an athlete is removed from further training, practice or competition because they are suspected of having sustained a concussion. These must be reported to the OWHA on the OWHA/Hockey Canada injury form.

• When a designated person informs an athlete or, if the athlete is under 18 years of age, the athlete’s parent or guardian that the athlete has been removed from further training, practice or competition, the protocol must require a designated person to advise the athlete or the parent or guardian that the athlete is required to undergo a medical assessment by a physician or a nurse practitioner before the athlete will be permitted to return to training, practice or competition in accordance with the sport organization’s return-to-sport protocol.

• The designated person must give the athlete or, if the athlete is under 18 years of age, the athlete’s parent or guardian a copy of the sport organization’s removal-from-sport and return-to-sport protocol when the athlete is removed from further practice, training or competition.

• The designated person must inform an athlete who has been diagnosed as having a concussion or, if the athlete is under

18 years of age, the athlete’s parent or guardian of the importance of disclosing the diagnosis to any other sport organization with which the athlete is registered or school that the athlete attends.

• The team/association must make a record of the athlete’s progression through the graduated return-to-sport steps up until the time the athlete is fully cleared to return to play.

• A designated person may rely on the information received from an athlete or, if the athlete is under 18 years of age, from the athlete’s parent or guardian in carrying out the designated person’s responsibilities under a sport organization’s return-to-sport protocol if it was not conducted under the supervision of the hockey team/association.

• When a player is diagnosed by a medical doctor as having a concussion, the individual must stop participation in all hockey activities immediately.

• The participant is not permitted to return to any hockey activity until written permission is given by a medical doctor or nurse practitioner.

• Return to full participation shall follow the adopted Hockey Canada Safety Program return to play guidelines.

RETURN TO PLAY – OWHA FOLLOWS HOCKEY CANADA

6-Step Return to Play

The return to play strategy is gradual, and begins after a doctor has given the player clearance to return to activity.  If any symptoms/signs return during this process, the player must be re-evaluated by a physician.  No return to play if any symptoms or signs persist.  Remember, symptoms may return later that day or next, not necessarily when exercising.

IMPORTANT – CONSULT WITH THE TREATING PHYSICIAN ON RETURN TO LEARN PROTOCOLS.  PLAYERS SHOULD HAVE THE ABILITY TO RETURN TO SCHOOL FULL-TIME PRIOR TO PROCEEDING THROUGH STEPS 5 AND 6 OF THE RETURN TO PLAY STRATEGY.

IMPORTANT – FOLLOWING A CONCUSSION AND PRIOR TO STEP 1, A BRIEF PERIOD OF PHYSICAL AND MENTAL REST IS RECOMMENDED.

Step 1

Light activities of daily living which do not aggravate symptoms or make symptoms worse. Once tolerating step 1 without symptoms and signs, proceed to step 2 as directed by your physician.

Step 2

Light aerobic exercise, such as walking or stationary cycling. Monitor for symptoms and signs. No resistance training or weight lifting.

Step 3

Sport specific activities and training (e.g. skating).

Step 4

Drills without body contact. May add light resistance training and progress to heavier weights.

The time needed to progress from non-contact to contact exercise will vary with the severity of the concussion and the player. Go to step 5 after medical clearance (reassessment and written note).

Step 5

Begin drills with body contact.

Step 6

Game play. (The earliest a concussed athlete should return to play is one week.)

Note: Players should proceed through the return to play steps only when they do not experience symptoms or signs and the physician has given clearance. Each step should be a minimum of one day (but could last longer depending on the player and the situation). If symptoms or signs return, the player should return to step 2 and be re-evaluated by a physician.

IMPORTANT – Young players will require a more conservative treatment.  Return

to play guidelines should be guided by the treating physician.

Receipt of Review of Concussion Awareness Resource

Thank you for completing your review of the Concussion Awareness Resource.

·         Under Rowan’s Law, the Brantford Girls Hockey Association asks you to confirm that you reviewed the e-booklet of the Concussion Awareness Resources in this website before you can register/participate in a sport.

·         You must review the resources once a year, and then confirm that you have completed the review every time you register with a sport organization. In completing this form both the BGHA and you will receive a copy of this form to confirm that you have reviewed the concussion awareness resource.

·         The email you receive will provide a record of your review of the concussion awareness resource.

·         The Concussion Awareness Resources (in BGHA Concussion Awareness Resource) have been loaded in the on-line Libraries in the team’s home pages and can be found under Concussion Information in the BGHA Home Page.