Rowan’s Law (Concussion Safety) 2018 is a Provincial law that came into effect in 2019 and provides requirements for sports organizations like the Clarington Baseball Association to implement steps to prevent concussions and remove individuals from sport for a suspected/confirmed concussion until proper medical clearance is obtained. On this page you will find links and information on Rowan’s Law, and how the CBA has implemented it.
What is a Concussion?
A concussion is a brain injury. It can’t be seen on X-rays, CT scans or MRIs. It may affect the way a person thinks, feels and acts.
Any blow to the head, face or neck may cause a concussion. A concussion may also be caused by a blow to the body if the force of the blow causes the brain to move around inside the skull. Examples include being hit in the head with a ball or falling hard onto the floor.
A concussion is a serious injury. While the effects are typically short-term, a concussion can lead to long-lasting symptoms and even long-term effects, such as memory problems or depression. (Government of Ontario)
LINKS:
Rowan’s Law (Ontario Statute)
Ontario’s Concussion Awareness Resources
CBA Concussion Policy and Protocols (new, effective Jan 10th, 2020)
CBA INJURY / CONCUSSION ONLINE REPORTING TOOL
Rowan’s Law was named for Rowan Stringer, a high school rugby player from Ottawa, who died in the spring of 2013 from a condition known as second impact syndrome (swelling of the brain caused by a subsequent injury that occurred before a previous injury healed). Rowan is believed to have experienced three concussions over six days while playing rugby. She had a concussion but didn’t know her brain needed time to heal. Neither did her parents, teachers or coaches.