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Helmet advocate championing baseline testing for Whistler youth

Tests would help to measure severity of concussions, improve treatment and recovery

Wearing appropriate helmets is the best way to prevent head injuries in sport, but when head injuries do happen it's essential that they're diagnosed and treated before the athlete gets back into the game.

Unfortunately, said helmet advocate Richard Kinar, they're not easy to diagnose and some athletes return too soon and risk a greater injury.

A long-time advocate for helmet use, and national helmet standards for every sport, Kinar is now advocating that Whistler launch a pilot project where all children in town would receive baseline testing, which will make it easier to diagnose concussions, determine their severity, and ensure that the head injury is treated and healed.

"It's the same situation we saw with (NHL star) Sidney Crosby," said Kinar. "His head injury was completely mishandled and he was put into the game too quickly. And now he's suffering because of poor decisions made by his caregivers.

"The real risk is a repetitive head injury, because it can lead to learning and behavioural problems if you receive another concussion. Crosby received a repetitive head injury in a short period of time, and it could affect his hockey career and the rest of his life."

Kinar was approached by Steve Legge on behalf of the Whistler Minor Hockey Association about bringing baseline testing to local hockey teams. He agreed to take on the issue, providing that it applied to all Whistler kids and not just those enrolled in hockey.

Kinar is now looking to speak to other teams and community stakeholders about the issue to gauge the level of interest. He sees Whistler - his new home after moving from North Vancouver - as an ideal pilot site for the rest of Canada.

"I've spoken to the Brain Injury Association and they agree that Whistler is the right place for this," said Kinar. "This is truly an outdoor community where almost everybody is involved in some type of high risk sport, or several high risk sports. After hosting the Olympics here, all of Canada contributed to build these legacies... but at the end of the day a true legacy that Whistler can give back to the rest of Canada is safe sport. What the FCM (Federation of Canadian Municipalities) asked for years ago is a strategy for youth prevention in sport, and I really believe Whistler will be steering that."

Kinar is currently talking to the mayor and councillors to get their support, as well as seeking input from other stakeholders in the community. Whatever system Whistler comes up with to test and monitor children - as well as the funding model - could be implemented in other communities across B.C. and Canada as part of a national injury prevention strategy.

"(Head injuries) happen on a regular basis, and parents need to be able to the make the right decisions," he said. "Most parents believe that disease is the biggest risk to their children, when it's preventable injury."

Baseline testing is a series of electronic tests that measure memory, attention and concentration, problem solving and mental processing speeds down to a millisecond. This determines an athletes' normal level of mental functioning before a head injury occurs.

Following a head injury, or suspected head injury, an athlete will sometimes see a decline relative to the baseline that was established. Taking regular tests will help to determine an athlete's recovery and whether there are any long-term cognitive issues to consider.

Baseline testing is currently being considered by the NHL and NFL, but is already in place in various sports organizations. One of those is Alpine Canada.

Kinar wants to hear from any sports and recreation organizations, schools, etc. that would be interested in learning more about baseline testing and taking part in a local program. He can be reached at richard.kinar@gmail.com.

More information on brain injuries and the proposed national injury prevention strategy for youth are available at the Brain Injury Association of Canada website, www.biac-aclc.ca.

Kinar has been active in head injury advocacy since 2003, when he saw a child wearing a helmet crash at Cypress Mountain at a low rate of speed and sustain a head injury. A former freestyle skier, he was interested in the case and started to make inquiries.

He was shocked to discover that there is no national standard for sport helmets, other than helmets used for cycling and hockey. One doctor specializing in head injuries told him that many of the helmets available offered as much protection to a child as wearing a bag of milk on their head.

Kinar set out on a campaign to create a national standard for ski and snowboard helmets, eventually expanding that to include other sport helmets as well. In addition, he's been a staunch advocate for the mandatory use of helmets in sport and supports mandatory helmet use by mountain staff and, eventually, for all skiers and snowboarders.

Like the baseline testing, Kinar said the benefits of helmets and proper treatment of head injuries goes beyond health. In 2009, it was estimated that preventable injuries - a category that includes head injuries - cost Canadians $15 billion a year.

A serious head injury could cost hundreds of thousands of dollars to treat, and a victim of a serious injury may be dependent on the state for support for the rest of his or her life.

Canada currently ranks 27th out of 29 countries in the Organization for Economic Co-operation and Development when it comes to preventable childhood injuries and death. The federal government is spending $5 million over the next two years, with the goal of moving up to 22nd on the list. As well, a national injury prevention strategy - in which helmets will play a big part - is in the works.