According to Hockey Canada, the moment a concussion is suspected, the immediate step is simple: remove the player from the current game or practice, never leave them alone, and do not give them any medication. The parent, coach or referee must be told about the injury, and the player should be evaluated by a doctor as soon as possible. The rule both organizations repeat: when in doubt, treat it as a concussion, because no sideline test (looking someone in the eye, asking a simple question) replaces a medical evaluation. Responsibility for recognizing these signs is shared: players, parents, coaches and officials are all encouraged to step in the moment doubt exists, rather than waiting for one designated person to act.
An important trap Parachute Canada highlights: signs and symptoms can appear with a delay, sometimes worse later that day or even the next morning, which means a child who seems fine right after the hit still needs to keep being watched. Certain signs call for emergency services without waiting: a severe or worsening headache, repeated vomiting, growing confusion or unusual agitation, weakness or numbness in an arm or leg, seizures, or loss of consciousness.
On prevention, Hockey Canada points to a few simple, documented steps: a helmet that fits snugly with the chin strap fastened, a properly fitted mouthguard, and following the rules that ban hits to the head and hits from behind. None of this eliminates the risk entirely, but these are the measures the organization puts forward for players themselves.
This page does not, and never will, offer advice on when or how to return to play after a concussion: that decision belongs exclusively to a health professional who has evaluated the child, never to a parent, a coach or a website. See a doctor as soon as a concussion is suspected, before even asking the question of getting back on the ice. The full resources from Hockey Canada and Parachute Canada, including their tools for parents and coaches, are publicly available at hockeycanada.ca/concussion and parachute.ca/concussion.
- Headache or pressure in the head
- Dizziness, poor balance or coordination
- Feeling foggy, confused or disoriented
- Blurred or double vision, sensitivity to light
- Nausea, vomiting
- Slow or slurred speech, delayed responses to questions
- Unusual tiredness, drowsiness or sleep disturbance
- Unusual mood or behaviour change
Frequently asked questions
Do you need to lose consciousness for it to be a concussion?
No. According to Parachute Canada and Hockey Canada, a person does not need to be knocked out to have had a concussion: a concussion can occur WITHOUT any loss of consciousness. A child who stays conscious after a hit can still have one.
What should you do right away if a concussion is suspected?
Remove the player from play immediately, never leave them alone, give no medication, tell the parent or coach, and have the player evaluated by a doctor as soon as possible. The player must not return to that same game or practice.
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