The
Pima County Health Department has partnered with
Sahuarita Unified School District, the
CACTIS Foundation and
Conquering Concussions to host a free informational session about concussions in youth involved in sports and other recreational activities. This presentation will support the goals and activities prioritized by the recent
Community Health Needs Assessment as it relates to accidents and injuries.
The Brains Matter! session will take place from 6 to 7 p.m., Wednesday, March 29 in the Sahuarita District Auditorium, 22 W. Sahuarita Road, and is open to all Sahuarita parents, students, teachers, as well as the general public. The presentation will feature medical specialists, educators and advocates, including former NFL all-star football player, Nick Lowery, who will discuss the importance of concussion education and best practices for student athletes.
“The goal of this initiative is to raise awareness for the prevalence of concussions among youth who participate in physical contact sports and develop a plan at the school level to address them when they happen,” said Brian Eller, PCHD program coordinator.
Participants will receive information on concussions, their consequences, post-incident resources, and also learn about the importance of baseline testing for all students with concussions, which helps with planning an effective rehabilitation program.
"This initiative exemplifies a cross sector, collective effort to the common objective of student health and wellness, through education, prevention, risk management, and individualized support when injuries occur," said Dr. Manuel Valenzuela, superintendent of Sahuarita School District.
Dr. Hirsch Handmaker, Chairman and CEO of CACTIS, strongly advocates for educating coaches, student-athletes, and parents, as well as requiring routine comprehensive and objective baseline concussion testing for all students.
“Concussions often occur outside of contact sports,” Handmaker said. “The brain develops at a different rate in almost all kids. Some of the post-concussion signs and symptoms may seem the same, but each concussion is unique, and requires objective assessment and tailored management.”
The concussion management initiative began following a 2016 study from the American Academy of Pediatrics that estimated between 1.1 and 1.9 million concussions occur annually in children under 19.
To learn more about the Brains Matter! event, contact Amber Woods at
awoods@sahuarita.net.
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