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Raiders team up to teach concussion, first aid safety

Feb 6, 2018 | 1:00 PM

The Prince Albert Raiders teamed up with Parkland Ambulance and the Acquired Brain Injury Program to talk basic first aid and concussions with Grade 8 students at Saint John Community School.

After passing around a green-jelly model of a brain, the students were quizzed on the signs and symptoms of brain injury and the proper stages of recovery: Removing one’s self from any activity you are involved with, quickly seeing a health care professional and getting plenty of rest — both physical and mental — were reinforced.

During the session, Parkland Ambulance, as part of Heart Month, provided basic AED and CPR instruction to the students.

While neither defenceman Zack Hayes nor captain Curtis Miske has had a concussion, both reiterated the strong policies in place for players and importance of giving your brain time to recover.

Miske said giving back and encouraging the right way to live and be safe is crucial in their roles in the community.

“When we are talking about concussions, it is always important to be a participant in your own safety,” he said.

To demonstrate early signs of concussions, special goggles were strapped to students’ heads and they were asked to complete simple tasks like catching a ball or giving a high five — all met with confusion and failure.

Educator Cara Nelson, who hosted the event, said, unfortunately, concussions are common today, and what was taught during the session are “life skills that the students need.” She added it was a fun way to tie topics into the curriculum.

“The more we can reinforce it the more we can talk about it and the more the kids will know what to do when it happens,” she said.

 

panews@jpbg.ca

On Twitter: @JournoMarr