Hello all,

With the government officially defeated, an election is in full swing. The NHCC has incorporated shared messaging about the need for a national brain strategy into BIAC’s election messages. For your reference, our key messages include:

Key Messages

• approximately 5.6 million Canadians live with a neurological condition and 5 million Canadians live with a mental illness today – that’s 1 in 3 Canadians living with a brain condition
• by extrapolating data from Ontario where 25% of the people living with a neurolgical condition are brain injury survivors, one can note that there are approximately 1.4 million Canadians living with an acquired brain injury
• regardless of diagnosis, people living with brain conditions share remarkably similar needs and challenges
• Canada’s neurological health charities have been working together to address these common needs
• we have developed a 7-pillar framework for a national brain strategy that when implemented, will improve the quality of life for millions and millions of Canadians
• the 7 pillars of the national brain and brain injury strategy are:

1. - research
2. - prevention
3. - integrated care and support
4. - caregiver support
5. - income security
6. - public education
7. - genetic privacy

Throughout the election, the NHCC and BIAC will be using Twitter, Facebook and email to keep our issues alive and to keep our communities informed. We have established an NHCC Youtube channel – two videos are loaded and available for viewing at: http://www.youtube.com/user/MyBrainMatters?feature=mhum As well, here is a YouTube video that describes briefly what a brain injury is and it’s wide ranging complexities: http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=arxlLmV6v5g.

We really appreciate communities to re-tweet our messages for greatest reach. They say this will be the Twitter election – let’s see how we can use it to get our shared messages out!

Information about Brain Injury Community

• Traumatic Brain Injury (TBI) is a leading cause of death and disability globally and, thus is of major public health importance.
• TBI is more common than breast cancer, spinal cord injury, HIV/AIDS, and multiple sclerosis (MS) combined.
• There are approximately 18,000 hospitalizations associated with TBI diagnosis annually in Canada.
• In the province of Ontario where there are two million people diagnosed with a neurological condition; 500,000 people have an acquired brain injury (ABI) as a result of TBI’s and multiple mTBI’s.
• In 2000-2001 brain injuries accounted for $151.7-million in direct costs to Canadians. Among all age groups, motor vehicle crashes and traffic-related incidents were the second leading cause of TBI 17.3 per cent, and resulted in the largest percentage of TBI-related deaths (32 per cent) in the United States.

What are the Leading Causes of TBI?

• The leading causes of TBI are:
• Falls (35.2%);
• Motor vehicle – traffic (17.3%);
• Struck by/against events (16.5%); and
• Assaults (10%).

Falls
Falls continued to be the leading cause of TBI (35.2%) in the United States. Falls cause half (50%) of the TBIs among children aged 0 to 14 years and 61% of all TBIs among adults aged 65 years and older.

Motor Vehicle-Traffic Crashes
Among all age groups, motor vehicle crashes and traffic-related incidents were the second leading cause of TBI (17.3%) and resulted in the largest percentage of TBI-related deaths (31.8%).

Struck By/Against Events
Struck by/against events, which include colliding with a moving or stationary object, were the second leading cause of TBI among children aged 0 to 14 years, with 25%.

Assault
Assaults produced 10% of TBIs in the general population; they accounted for only 2.9% in children aged 0 to 14 years and 1% in adults aged 65 years old and older.

Who is at Risk?
Approximately 18% of all TBI-related emergency department visits involved children aged 0 to 4 years.
Approximately 22% of all TBI-related hospitalizations involved adults aged 75 years and older.
Males are more often diagnosed with a TBI (59%).

Blasts are a leading cause of TBI for active duty military personnel in war zones. CDC estimates of TBI do not include injuries seen at U.S. Department of Defense or U.S. Veterans Health Administration Hospitals. For more information about TBI in the military including an interactive website for service members, veterans, and families and caregivers, please visit: www.TraumaticBrainInjuryAtoZ.org.

Traumatic Brain Injury and Domestic Violence-Understanding the Intersections

This Special Collection offers information about the intersection between domestic violence and Traumatic Brain Injury (TBI). It provides advocates and other professionals with tools to screen for TBI within the context of domestic violence as well as presentations, articles, and other relevant resources on the topic. The purpose of this collection is to: 1) increase knowledge and understanding of TBI within the context of domestic violence, 2) provide tools to advocates and other professionals to screen domestic violence survivors for TBI, and 3) highlight best practices.

Access this Special Collection at: http://www.vawnet.org/category/index_pages.php?category_id=1075.

Brain Injury Association of Canada – Our Cause: Acquired Brain Injury
In an instant a life is changed, forever. Everyday we participate in activities that produce endless risks for sustaining a brain injury: car accidents, a fall from a bike, or a blow to the head. It is estimated that thousands of Canadians incur a traumatic brain injury (TBI) and mild traumatic brain injury (mTBI), also known as a concussion, each year, the majority being young adults. Statistics indicate that the incidence of brain injury is two times greater in men. The Brain Injury Association of Canada (BIAC) strives to raise awareness of the incidence of acquired brain injury (ABI) in Canada.

A brain injury may make it necessary for the injured person to require full time assistance. Families often become the primary caregiver and support person. Many families are left to cope on their own. They sometimes have little understanding of the effects of the injury and the demands that will be made of them by an injured family member. Families need support from others who understand the effects of acquired brain injury. The Brain Injury Association of Canada (BIAC) provides a shared forum for the support of both families and survivors. BIAC also advocates for the enhancement of support services.

Prevention through public education, and safety legislation is the key to the reducing the occurrence of ABI amongst Canadians. The Brain Injury Association of Canada engages in extensive public education initiatives through its many local community associations across Canada.

Neuroscience and injury prevention research is another key to addressing ABI. The Brain Injury Association of Canada endeavours to support and promote research in Canada and internationally.

Brain Injury Association of Canada – Our Mission
At the founding meeting in July 2003 in Montreal, members from brain injury associations from across Canada, representing survivors, families, medical and research professionals identified the need to create the Brain Injury Association of Canada.

Our mandate is to improve the quality of life for all Canadians affected by acquired brain injury and promote its prevention. BIAC is dedicated to the facilitation of post-trauma research, education and advocacy in partnership with national, provincial/territorial and regional associations and other stakeholders.
BIAC is incorporated as a national charitable organization under the Canada Corporations Act and the Canada Revenue Agency.

Please let us know if we can be of help to you and / or if you have any thoughts.

Gatineau, Quebec – The Brain Injury Association of Canada (BIAC) is asking Canadians to speak with political candidates and elected members of parliament about the lack of development of a national injury prevention strategy. The 2008 federal election period is the most opportune stage to bring this need forward for discussion.

Treating preventable injuries costs Canadians $14.7 billion per year. This price is putting Canadian business at an economic disadvantage, lowering our standard of living, and putting the publicly funded health care system at risk. BIAC asks Canadians to ask our politicians whether they believe supporting a national injury development strategy is worth the lives that could be saved.

BIAC competes for limited public and private funds, working to develop initiatives aimed at saving Canadians from preventable injuries – specifically brain injuries. Efforts include:
• Wipe Out, a documentary highlighting the consequences of brain injuries through the eyes of extreme sport accident victims
• Brain Injury Awareness Month in Canada (June)
• Bursary program to assist survivors in pursuing post-secondary education opportunities
• Hawaiian Oyster Odyssey fundraisers help fund prevention and awareness programs, promote research, and provide education and networking for brain injury survivors
• A national conference for brain injury survivors, their families, and caregivers to attend presentations and workshops offered by health professionals
• A website and newsletter dedicated to brain injury issues

As for changing the law to save Canadians, Bill C-412, as submitted by Doctor Hedy Fry, MLA for Vancouver Center, is presently before Parliament. The new law would amend the Hazardous Products Act, and prohibit the sale of winter sport helmets in Canada which do not meet the latest Canadian Standards Association criteria. To further this effort BIAC has established www.mostisnotenough.ca – a website designed to inform the public about Bill C-412. The website also serves as a direct way to contact those politicians who can make Bill C-412 a reality.

Canada’s federal election campaign provides Canadians a vital opportunity to speak to legislators and candidates; and while telling our leaders what we want from them, ask if they support Bill C-412, and explain how important brain injury prevention is to everyone.

CONTACT:
Richard Kinar
Chair, Helmet Safety Committee
Brain Injury Association of Canada
Cell: (604) 910-2435
Richard_Kinar@yahoo.ca

The purpose of the document is to provide you with a list of brain injury issues to address to candidates when visiting your home or during a forum of candidates.

Background:
Helping Canadian families cope with acquired brain injury
Founded in 2003 the Brain Injury Association of Canada (BIAC) is the national umbrella organization representing and coordinating a network of provincial/regional associations and stakeholders from across the country.

BIAC’s mission is to improve the quality of life for all Canadians affected by acquired brain injury and promote its prevention.

Also, BIAC is dedicated to facilitate post trauma research, education and advocacy in partnership with national, provincial/territorial and regional associations and stakeholders. A national brain injury association can be a tremendous force in the efforts to give what is often called the ‘’invisible disability,’’ the recognition and the profile it warrants as the leading cause of death and disability among Canadians under the age of 45.

More specifically, BIAC was involved in organizing and promoting:

• a prevention campaign with a documentary ‘Wipe Out’ which highlights the dangers and consequences of head injuries through the eyes of extreme sport accident victims
• a law that will prohibit the sale of helmets which do not meet Canadian Standards Association (CSA) criteria for use in winter sports in Canada
• the month of June as Brain Injury Awareness Month (BIAM) in Canada
• a Bursary Program to assist survivors in pursuing education opportunities in English or French post secondary institutions
• Hawaiian Oyster Odyssey fundraisers in many major Canadian cities in order to assist the Association in meeting its objectives of prevention, awareness, promoting research, education and networking for brain injury survivors
• A national conference for brain injury survivors, their families and caregivers from across Canada to attend presentations and workshops offered by health professionals.
• A website and newsletter on brain injury issues.

1. Questions:
Can you tell me what you know about acquired brain injury? Would you be interested in learning more about it? Have you ever heard of the Brain Injury Association of Canada?

Background:
Locally and nationally, Brain Injury Awareness Month brings to light the ongoing struggle organizations such as the Brain Injury Association of Canada have chosen to undertake to reduce the number of preventable injuries in Canada, including brain injuries. Treating preventable injuries costs Canadians $14.7 billion per year. This price is putting Canadian business at an economic disadvantage, lowering the standard of living for all Canadians, and putting our publicly funded health care system at risk.

2. Questions:
Would you support holding a national debate in order to develop a national injury prevention strategy in Canada?

Would you invest in promoting and funding a national injury prevention strategy in Canada?

Background:
The Canadian Standards Association published, in June 2008, the world’s best standard for ski and snow-board helmets; however, helmet manufacturers have refused to apply these standards unless legislated to by the federal government. Doctor Hedy Fry, MLA for Vancouver Center, has written to Prime Minister Harper, asking for an Order in Council to have her private members bill (C-412) passed.

Bill C-412, if enacted would amend the Hazardous Products Act, a law that will prohibit the sale of helmets for use in winter sports in Canada which do not meet Canadian Standards Association specifications/standards

“There is no legislation requiring other sport helmets to be CSA approved. This places many children and youth at risk of serious brain injuries or death.” – George Abbott, Health Minister, British Columbia.

Brain injury is the leading killer and disabler of children and young adults in Canada. As a result, Canada will remain near the bottom of a list of countries whose governments invest in youth injury prevention programs.

3. Question:
Would you support the passing of a private members bill (C-412) amending the Hazardous Products Act, and prohibit the advertising, sale, or import into Canada of recreational snow sport helmets that do not meet the requirements of applicable Canadian Standards Association specifications?

Background:
Resumption of activity and social integration are goals every survivor wishes to achieve. The aim is to ease a person’s integration back into his or her personal life, family situation, social relations, work and studies. More often than not, availability of care depends on where you live, if you have adequate insurance coverage and family and friends willing to support you along the way. Normally, care should be provided at home, within a family environment, or as part of the services provided by: a health program, an outpatient care facility, an educational institution or the victim’s employer.

The goal pursued here is the person’s rehabilitation, to facilitate a resumption of normal activities by increasing self-reliance in daily living.

4. Questions:
Recognizing the need for re-training and for vocational support for people with acquired brain injury (ABI), what would you do to encourage the development of or expansion of vocational and educational programs?

What would you do to ensure that ABI survivors with limited employability receive income support for necessary medical care and adequate housing adapted to their specific needs?

Does your party have a national policy concerning brain injury – both its prevention, and rehabilitation following this physical disability of the brain?

Contact person:
Yvan Teasdale
Chair, Government Relations & Public Affairs Committee/
Comité des relations gouvernementales et des affaires publiques
Brain Injury Association of Canada / Association canadienne des lésés cérébraux
Tel. (819) 685-9023 / (819) 777-2492
Fax: (819) 595-2458
Email: yjk.teasdale@sympatico.ca
Website: www.biac-aclc.ca