New Brunswick sees 70% hike in sports head injuries

Head injuries related to sports in New Brunswick increased 70 per cent from 2011 to 2015, reports the province's Trauma Program.

The top five sports sending patients to the emergency department with head injuries were hockey, rugby, football, soccer and cycling.

The head of the trauma program said the rise in emergency room visits wasn't unexpected due to an increase in public awareness about head injuries and concussions.

"Over the last year, the NB Trauma Program and our partners have put an emphasis on increasing the public's knowledge about concussions," said Dr. Tushar Pishe, the interim medical director of the program.

"We expected to see an increase in visits to emergency departments which indicates the public is receiving the message — if you suspect a head injury such as a concussion, see a healthcare professional as soon as possible."

Common concussion symptoms include general confusion, headaches, dizziness and poor balance.

More than 90 per cent of people diagnosed in an emergency department with a concussion do not require hospitalization.

The trauma program encourages the use of sports helmets, which reduce the risk of a serious head injury by up to 85 per cent.

"A helmet does not prevent a concussion; however they are very effective against certain head injuries such as skull fractures," according to a news release from the trauma program.

The New Brunswick Trauma Program is a formal partnership of the Horizon and Vitalité Health Authorities, Ambulance New Brunswick and the provincial Department of Health.