Concussions can happen in many activities, from sports to road traffic incidents. They can lead to serious long-term effects if not treated properly.
Concussions
Why Concussion Injuries Matter.
A concussion is the most common form of head injury. Any hit to the head, face, neck, or impact with the body that makes the brain move around inside the skull can cause a concussion. It cannot be seen on X-rays, CT scans or on MRIs. A concussion can affect the way a person may think and remember things, and can cause a variety of physical, emotional, cognitive and sleep-related symptoms.2 Kids who sustain a concussion can have memory problems that last a long time. They may also have trouble in school, like needing extra help, missing a lot of classes, or being left out.1
Each year, there are an average of 14,876 concussion-related Emergency Department visits in Alberta.3
Young Albertans, ages 10 to 24 years, have the highest rate of concussion.
- Neck pain or tenderness
- Seizure, ‘fits’ or convulsion
- Loss of vision or double vision
- Loss of consciousness
- Increased confusion or deteriorating conscious state (becoming less responsive, drowsy)
- Weakness or numbness / tingling in arms or legs
- Repeated vomiting
- Severe or increasing headache
- Increasingly restless, agitated, or combative
- Visible deformity of the skull
Preventing Concussion Injuries.
Concussion Signs and Symptoms
It is important to familiarize yourself with the signs and symptoms of concussion as this can help you to more quickly recognize when you, or others, have a concussion. Signs and symptoms can vary from person to person, and can feel different than a previous concussion you may have experienced.
It is also important to note that a person does not need to “pass out” in order to be at risk for a concussion. In fact, the vast majority of people who experience a concussion will never lose consciousness.
Red-Flag Symptoms
Red flag symptoms can be a sign that a more serious brain injury has occurred and urgent medical care is needed. If a person is exhibiting any of the following symptoms, they must head to their nearest emergency room or call an ambulance.
In order to prevent concussions, we need to focus on how to reduce the severity of these incidents, or prevent them from occurring at all.
- Students, youth, parents, coaches, teachers, and medical professionals can find tailored concussion training at CATT Online.
- Educators are encourages to host a Brain Waves session for their classes.
- Educators, administrators, and coaches are also encouraged to review our SPHEReS guidelines.
- Identify potential fall hazards in your home. Learn how to take action by using our Finding Balance AB Spot the Hazard Home Safety Checklist.
- Fitness is important! One of the best ways to reduce your risk of having a fall is to keep your legs strong and challenge your balance with regular exercise.
- Always hold handrails on stairs and escalators.
- Wear supportive, non-slip footwear and add ice grips / cleats to your winter footwear.
- If you have toddlers at home, install wall-mounted gates at the tops and bottoms of stairs.
- Always ensure you and anyone in the vehicle is properly buckled.
- Ensure child passengers are using age / weight appropriate car seats or booster seats.
- Never use your phone, or participate in other distracting activities while driving.
- Always drive the speed limit and obey traffic signage / signals.
- Learn to play your sport properly, develop your skills, and select a level that is appropriate for you.
- Before any physical activity, make sure to warm-up properly using methods such as neuromuscular training to prevent falls and collisions.
- Avoid drugs and alcohol before participating in your sport / activity.
- Always wear the appropriate equipment for your sport, and ensure it is properly fitted.
- Well-fitting mouth guards have been shown to help prevent concussion in hockey players - always wear your mouthguard if you participate in hockey.
Resources.
Use these hashtags on social media to discuss this issue.
#PutALidOnIt
Updated 7 August, 2025.
References
1 Parachute. (2021). Concussion. https://parachute.ca/en/injury-topic/concussion
2 Möttönen, J., Kuitunen, I., Ponkilainen, V.T. et al. Impact of childhood traumatic brain injury on educational attainment in Finland from 1998 to 2018: a retrospective register-based nationwide cohort study. Eur J Epidemiol (2025). https://doi.org/10.1007/s10654-025-01218-9
3 Concussions in Alberta. Edmonton, AB: Injury Prevention Centre, 2024
4 Concussion Recognition Tool (CRT6). https://bjsm.bmj.com/content/bjsports/57/11/692.full.pdf
- Headache
- ‘Pressure in the head’
- Balance problems
- Nausea or vomiting
- Drowsiness
- Dizziness
- Blurred Vision
- More sensitive to light
- More sensitive to noise
- Fatigue or low energy
- “Don’t feel right”
- Neck pain
- More emotional
- More irritable
- Sadness
- Nervous or anxious
- Difficulty concentrating
- Difficulty remembering
- Feeling slowed down
- Feeling ‘in a fog’
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