By Jenn Vanriper, The Leader-PostOctober 27, 2010
Barb Butler said it’s important to raise awareness about brain injuries because most people have misconceptions about the term.
“They think a knock on the head, you recover from that like you recover from a broken bone. But a brain injury is forever,” explained the vice-president and newsletter editor of the Brain Injury Association of Canada (BIAC).
“When people hear brain injury, I think in their heads they hear brain damage. The term brain damage is much more severe,” said Butler.
Butler is a survivor of a brain injury she got from a car accident in 1993, a year after moving to Saskatchewan, and then joined a support group in Regina. Butler later joined the Saskatchewan Brain Injury Association board and then BIAC.
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In this Issue:
- Unanimous! The 2010 Conference in Regina was a resounding success!
- Photos and Testimonials
- Picturing the 2010 Conference in Regina
- BIAC is pleased to announce outstanding Canadians & supporters
- Message from Larry Carlson President, the Brain Injury Association of Canada
- Message from the Editor, Barb Butler
- From the Executive Director, Harry Zarins
- “Tickets to Hawaii” winner announced at 2010 Conference!
- Outstanding 2010 Annual Conference Results and New Board and Executive
- About Our Cause: Acquired Brain Injury
Impact – Pathways Ahead, Our October 2010 Newsletter (pdf)
Newsletter Archive
What is A Concussion? By Lindsay Barton Created 05/01/2008 – 19:14, Revised and updated May 25, 2010
What is a concussion?
- A concussion is an injury to the brain that results in the temporary loss of normal brain function and can have serious, long-term consequences.1
- A concussion is also often referred to as a traumatic brain injury (TBI) or mild traumatic brain injury (MTBI).
- In fact, a recent Canadian study [1] argues that labeling a child’s head injury as a “concussion” convey the wrong message to parents, athletes and athletic trainers about its seriousness, and that to encourage full reporting of head injuries in sports and to allow adequate management and recovery time MTBI be used in its place.
- The word is derived from the Latin word “concutere”, meaning to shake violently.
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Dear ThinkFirster,
Please find attached a copy of the latest issue of BrainWaves, ThinkFirst Canada / Pensez d’Abord Canada’s newsletter. This issue is TD ThinkFirst For Kids themed. Inside you will find information on the launch of our new contest “I ThinkFirst!” for kids under the age of 18. “I ThinkFirst!” Contest details
Also, attached is a copy of THINKFIRST CANADA’S ALL-TERRAIN VEHICLE INJURY PREVENTION TIPS with information on best/safer practices for operating all terrain vehicles. You may notice a new look as well, many thanks to Fred Roberts for his work on the redesign.
Please share this newsletter with your friends, family and colleagues as appropriate.
Until next time, ThinkFirst and be safe!
Sincerely,
The BrainWaves Team
Thursday, October 21, 2010
By Mark Busby, The Daily News
Re: ‘There are good reasons for helmet law’ (Daily News, Oct. 7)
I would like to acknowledge your recent ‘our view’ article surrounding helmet use in our community. To support this article I would add that researchers estimate 90% of injuries are predictable and preventable. Helmets are effective for cyclists of all ages and for all types of crashes. When worn properly, helmets reduce the risk of traumatic brain injury by 88%.
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Greeting friends,
NABIS’ long time supporter, friend and colleague passed away suddenly on October 12, 2010. I am sending you a link to the NABIS website with a tribute to Pat Hirschi. It is with the utmost respect that we encourage you to post comments on the page. We will update our website with regards to memorial services, etc., as soon as we know.
Be well and hug your loved ones!
Wendy
http://www.nabis.ab.ca/?p=620#comments
http://www.nabis.ab.ca/wp-content/uploads/2010/10/a-tribute-to-patrick-hirschi.pdf
Patrick Hirschi
1951 – 2010
The family and friends of Patrick Hirschi and NABIS Brain Injury Society mourn the sudden passing of one of our most dynamic professionals and volunteers, Mr. Patrick Hirschi, B.S.W., M.S.W. Patrick left us on Tuesday, October 12, 2010 at his home after struggling with injury and health issues for some years.
A FUNdraiser in support of the Brain Injury Association of Canada & Brain Injury Coalition of Prince Edward Island
Scheduled Special Guests: Hon. Doug Currie, Minister of Education & Early Childhood Development; Hon. Robert Vessey, Minister of Tourism & Culture; Ian “Tex” MacDonald, Hurricanes Head Coach; Harry Zarins, Executive Director BIAC; Mark McIntosh, Brain Injury Survivor
Tickets: $35 at the door
We are selling tickets for a draw for an autographed Steve Ott Dallas Stars Jersey.
For tickets call 314-4228 or email tickets@bicpei.com
When Fri, October 29, 7pm – 10pm
Where Inn on The Hill 150 Euston Street
Who • Kenneth Murnaghan • Harry Zarin
Dr. Michael Stuart is concerned about concussions in all levels of hockey, and he is doing something about it.
While much has been discussed about the serious injuries in the NHL and what steps the league has taken to try to limit their occurrence, Dr. Stuart and the Mayo Clinic are trying to fix the problem way before players grow up to be pros.
Stuart, the vice chair of orthopedic surgery and the co-director of sports medicine centre departments at the Mayo Clinic, is spearheading a two-day summit on concussions beginning Tuesday.
Scientists, trainers, coaches, officials, and equipment manufacturers from the United States, Canada and Europe will gather at the clinic’s sports medicine centre for the “Ice Hockey Summit: Action on Concussion” conference.
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Monday, October 18, 2010
By Patrick J. Kennedy
Rhode Island is often touted as being perfectly sized to act as a laboratory to explore innovative ideas — an ideal incubator for drawing on individual institutions to push boundaries of science and technology that would otherwise be beyond their individual limits.
The Brown Institute for Brain Science drew experts from around America last Wednesday and Thursday to speak at a celebratory symposium, “The Future of the Brain.”
The symposium, celebrating a decade of exploring the human brain at Brown University, demonstrates yet again Rhode Island’s status as a leader in the emerging field of neuroscience.
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Pat Graham
The Associated Press
Published Tuesday, Oct. 12, 2010 1:18PM EDT
Since his college days, New England Revolution forward Taylor Twellman has had seven diagnosed concussions. Given all the headers and hits over his career, he’s wondering if that number might be drastically higher.
Twellman still deals with the effects of a concussion he sustained during a collision with a goalkeeper two years ago, one that possibly cost him a shot at making the U.S. World Cup team and cut short his 2010 season after going on injured reserve in late June.
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