Minnesota Brain Injury Alliance
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2277 Highway 36 West, Suite 200 Roseville, MN 55113-3830
Phone: 612-378-2742
Toll Free: 1-800-669-6442
Fax: 612-378-2789
E-Mail:info@braininjurymn.org
Hours: Monday-Friday, 8 a.m. to 4:30 p.m.


Press Release

PRESS RELEASE
Brain Injury Association of Minnesota
34 13th Avenue, Northeast
Suite B001
Minneapolis, MN 55413
Pat Marciniak
Public Awareness Director

Media Alert -- Brain Injury Association of Minnesota 25th Annual Conference for Professionals in Brain Injury -- April 29-30, 2010
Targets New Information on Sports Concussions in Children, Teens and Adults

(MINNEAPOLIS - April 27, 2010) – With sports concussions accounting for 50,000 concussions in high school athletes per year, (though the true number is likely much higher), since more than 50 percent of concussed athletes fail to report their symptoms. One of the main focuses of the Brain Injury Association of Minnesota is sports related concussions which account for 20 percent of all brain injuries and is the third leading cause of brain injury. According to Executive Director, David King, "as an advocacy organization, our Association wants to ensure that our young athletes are educated and protected as much as possible when it comes to sports related concussions. Minnesota is lagging behind other states such as Washington, Oregon and Connecticut who have already passed 'Return to Play' legislation designed to protect young athletes."

The Brain Injury Association of Minnesota believes that it is time to move beyond voluntary recommendations and for Minnesota to adopt a "Return to Play" protocol that is mandated for all youth and high school athletes. This year's annual conference features two sessions on sports concussions which will include some new information on sports concussions in children, teens and adults.

WHAT: Brain Injury Association of Minnesota's 25th Annual Conference for Professionals in Brain Injury Targets New Information on Sports Concussions in Children, Teens and Adults

4th and Long: Sports Concussions
Ron Sasso MS, NCC, LPC – Director of Community Transitions - Rapid City, SD
Vice President of the Brain Injury Alliance of South Dakota

Thursday, April 29 – 11 a.m. – 12:15p.m.
This session covers new research which shows that return to play can be dangerous and have significant long term affects on athletes. The tendency to ignore symptoms and consequences and the standard attitude of "toughing it out" by returning to the field or court too soon after experiencing a sports concussion will be covered in this session. (Covers teen and adult athletes.)
Please Doc! Let Me Play! Sports-related Concussions in Minnesota's Children and Teens
Presenters will be the Injury Prevention Staff at the Minnesota Department of Health
Leslie Seymour, MD, MPH; Jon Roesler, MS and Anna Gaichas, MS

Friday, April 30 – 1:15 – 2:30 p.m.
There has been a lot of publicity about sports-related concussion recently with the NFL looking at its impact on players. But is football the only sport to be concerned about? Does age or gender of the individual have any role? How much of a problem has it been in Minnesota? This session, from the Injury Prevention Staff at the Minnesota Department of Health will provide an epidemiological perspective of sports-related concussion in youth occurring during a 10 year span. This session will be followed by a panel review of the most recent CDC guidelines for sports-related concussion, with discussion and Q&A.
Executive Director of the Brain Injury Association of Minnesota, David King, will also be available for interviews at the conference or can be scheduled at a later date to discuss the Associations work on sports concussions in Minnesota and "Return to Play."

WHEN:
Thursday, April 29 – 11a.m - 12:15p.m. – 4th & Long: Sports Concussions
Friday, April 30 – 1:15 – 2:30 p.m. – Please Doc! Let Me Play! Sports Related Concussion in Minnesota's Children’s and Teens

WHERE:
Crown Plaza St. Paul Riverfront Hotel
11 East Kellogg Blvd.
St. Paul, MN 55101

CONTACT:
Pat Marciniak
Public Awareness Director
612-360-5440 (cell)

About the Brain Injury Association of Minnesota
Celebrating 26 years of service, the Brain Injury Association of Minnesota is the only statewide non-profit organization dedicated to serving the 100,000 Minnesotans who live with a disability due to brain injury, their loved ones and the professionals who work with them. The Brain Injury Association of Minnesota has programs and services designed to enhance the quality of life and bring the promise of a better tomorrow for all persons affected by brain injury. For more information, please visit www.braininjurymn.org or call 800-669-6442.

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2277 Highway 36 West, Suite 200 | Roseville, MN 55113-3830 | Phone: 612-378-2742 or 800-669-6442