Recognizing, Responding, and Recovering: Canada’s Concussion Awareness Week

September 22-28, 2026 is Canada's Concussion Awareness Week

Concussions can happen anywhere and anytime. Whether it is a toddler falling at home, a teenager colliding on the sports field, an adult involved in a motor vehicle collision, or an older adult experiencing a slip and fall, knowing how to prevent, recognize, and manage a concussion is vital to ensuring a safe and complete recovery.

What is a Concussion?
A concussion is a brain injury caused by a direct blow to the head, face, neck, or elsewhere on the body that transmits an impulsive force to the head [Consensus Statement on Concussion in Sport (McCrory et al., 2023)]. It results in temporary clinical symptoms and cognitive impairment. Because concussions are functional injuries rather than structural ones, they cannot be seen on standard neuroimaging like MRI or CT scans. 
The Four Categories of Concussion SymptomsSymptoms of a concussion typically fall into four categories. Families should monitor youth for any of the following signs after an impact:

1. Physical: Headaches, nausea, dizziness, sensitivity to light or noise, balance issues, or fatigue.
2. Cognitive: Feeling "in a fog," difficulty concentrating, slowed thinking, or memory trouble.
3. Emotional/Behavioral: Irritability, sadness, heightened anxiety, or emotional lability.
4. Sleep: Sleeping more or less than usual, or trouble falling asleep.

Note: If an individual exhibits "red flag" symptoms—such as repeated vomiting, worsening headache, slurred speech, worsening coordination, neck pain, or loss of consciousness—seek emergency medical care immediately.

The Path to Recovery: Active Rehabilitation
Sports organizations across Canada have adopted concussion guidelines, with consensus being that any athlete with a suspected concussion during practice or competition must be immediately removed from play and cannot return to activity until they have been medically cleared by a qualified healthcare professional.

​The historical advice of keeping an injured individual in a dark room until all symptoms resolve is no longer recommended. Current clinical guidelines advocate for an active recovery model for all ages:

• Initial Rest: 24 to 48 hours of relative physical and cognitive rest.
• Graduated Return-to-Activity/Work: Prioritizing a step-by-step return to daily cognitive activities, school, or work before fully returning to high-exertion physical tasks.
• Graduated Return-to-Play/Sport: A supervised, multi-stage physical progression for athletes of all levels, ensuring the individual remains symptom-free at each stage before advancing.

Essential Resources and Support
To support recovery and education across all age groups, you can access these evidence-based resources:

• Concussion Awareness Week Toolkit: Access official campaign materials and educational resources via the Concussion Network Coach / Réseau Concussion Canada.
• Concussion Guides for All Ages: Download tailored guides for parents, adults, and athletes, alongside the Concussion Recognition Tool (CRT6), through Parachute Canada.
• Return-to-Work and Play Guidelines: Access resources on managing recovery in the workplace and in sports via the Concussion Legacy Foundation Canada.
• Federal Injury Prevention Guidelines: Read the national guidelines and statistics on the Government of Canada Concussion Info Page.

Disclaimer: The information provided in this article is for educational and informational purposes only and is not intended as professional advice, diagnosis, or treatment. Always seek the advice of your physician or other qualified health provider with any questions you may have regarding a medical condition. Never disregard professional medical advice or delay in seeking it because of something you have read here. Information changes quickly, so always refer to the most recent literature. This blog was created with the assistance of BastionGPT, but all information was reviewed and edited by Dr. Brooks.