HomeMy WebLinkAboutOntario introduces bill to prevent serious head injuries in young athletes - Metro Toronto - 12/14/2017 - Metro Toronto - 12/14/201712/15/2017 Ontario introduces bill to prevent serious head injuries in young athletes
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The proposed law is named after Rowan Stringer — the 17 -year-old Ottawa -area rugby player
who died in 2013 following several concussions.
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By: Staff Torstar News Service, Published oin Thu IDec 14 017
Ontario has introduced legislation in the hopes of preventing young athletes from getting
concussions, better tracking when they suffer head injuries and requiring codes of conduct to
deter dangerous behaviours in sports.
The proposed law is named after Rowan Stringer — the 17 -year-old Ottawa -area rugby player
who died in 2013 following several concussions.
"We have heard from Ontario families that they want to know that their children are protected by
a safe sport system where everyone understands concussions, actively minimizes the risk, and
knows what to do immediately if someone is concussed," said Eleanor McMahon, minister of
tourism, culture and sport.
The legislation received praise from health officials as well as education groups, and also from
Stringer's family.
"I want to express my gratitude to all those who made this possible," said Rowan's dad, Gordon
Stringer.
http://www. metronews.ca/news/toronto/2017/ 12/14/ontario-bil l-prevent-serious-head-inj uries-you ng-athl etes. pri nt.htm1 1/2
12/15/2017 Ontario introduces bill to prevent serious head injuries in young athletes
"... I'm proud that Rowan's Law will be the benchmark for Canada in concussion surveillance,
prevention, detection and management."
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The proposed law was based on previous advocacy and work by Progressive Conservative MPP
Lisa MacLeod, as well as Stringer's parents and athletes like former NHLer Eric Lindros, who
also suffered a number of head injuries.
Bill 193, which passed first reading on Thursday, would force yearly updates of concussion
materials that coaches, parents and players must review before taking part. Every sports
organization must also have a concussion code of conduct.
Given the growing awareness about head injuries, a number of sports groups already
have coir"Icurwa§ik)n Ilpirol:oa:,aals in place. School boards and private schools will also be mandated to
have such policies.
The new law would also designate the last Wednesday in September as Rowan's Law Day.
"We are most pleased about the effort around consistency around settings" — whether in school
or in competitive leagues, said Chris Markham of OPHEA, a not-for-profit group that works with
school boards and governments on physical and health education.
"it looks at a number of different pieces but there's consistency of implementation across both
sport and education and I think what we are really excited about is the whole concept of culture
change — to make it easier for athletes to say when they are injured and get the support they
need when identified."
The government is also looking for public input on the bill.
In Canada, almost 40 per cent of youth who head to the hospital after a sports -related head
injury have a concussion, with 24 per cent possibly having suffered one.
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