Brain Injury Awareness Week 3-10 June 2008

Brain Injury Awareness Week is our annual campaign aimed at raising awareness and understanding of brain injury and its effects. The week promotes greater understanding of the issues faced by people who have sustained a brain injury and their families, friends and carers.

The 2008 Awareness Week will focus on concussion, also known as mild traumatic brain injury. Sport and recreation are a big part of the Kiwi lifestyle, and we are delighted that during this Awareness Week high profile New Zealand athletes will be faces of the Brain Injury Awareness Week, sharing their experiences and promoting prevention strategies.

Why Concussion?

• An estimated 24,000 people in New Zealand sustain a concussion every year, and many more are unreported and undiagnosed.
• The majority of concussions are sustained through sport and recreation.
• The highest risk groups are children, young men and over 65s.

Most people regard concussion as a minor injury, and while it may be true for some people, about 10% of all people sustaining a concussion have ongoing symptoms for months or even years. This is known as post concussion syndrome, and some of the most common problems include fatigue and headaches, cognitive, emotional, and behavioural problems.

In addition, repeated concussions have a cumulative effect - so that a person who sustains a number of concussions can end up with a more serious injury. Repeated concussions can also lead to second impact syndrome – where a person sustains a second concussion before the first one has healed. This can require emergency medical intervention and can be fatal.

Campaign Highlights:

The key features of the Brain Injury Awareness Week are:

• Significant events throughout the country
• Street collections throughout the country
• Media involvement - including television, radio, local and national print media

 

 

 

 

Over the past two years the BIA has worked closely with the Accident Compensation Commission to highlight awareness of concussion and mild brain injury. This year ACC provided Sideline Concussion Kits that carried the BIANZ logo. In addition it prepared a poster, also carrying the logo, to highlight the need for a sensible and safe approach to concussion in sport.