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The Scottish government has launched a campaign to raise awareness in schools about the dangers of concussion in sport. A leaflet, which will be distributed to all schools in the country, includes the story of Ben Robinson, the 14-year-old who died from second impact syndrome after sustaining a double concussion while playing in a rugby match.
Ben's father, Peter Robinson, who has been leading a campaign to improve education about concussion across Britain, hailed the leaflet as "a good start" but stressed that he still wanted to get the topic on to the school curriculum, as it is in 49 US states.
In the runup to the campaign, a survey was done of staff at 171 Scottish schools. It revealed that 30% of respondents would allow a player with suspected concussion to return to play, which was the very mistake that led to the death of Ben Robinson.
Other worrying findings were that 91% mistakenly thought that a helmet protects against concussion, and that, in the experience of 34%, concussed players were being allowed to return to play within a week of the injury. The minimum rest period after a concussion is, as the new leaflet makes clear, 14 days, followed by a graduated and medically supervised return to physical activity in the following week.
The campaign has the support of the Scottish Rugby Union, the Scottish Football Association, and sportscotland. The SRU's chief medical officer, James Robson, and the leading neuropathologist Willie Stewart have both been involved in the process.
"This is a most welcome initiative from the Scottish government and our major sporting organisations," Stewart said. "This clear guidance on how to manage concussion is summed up by the simple and safe message: 'If in doubt, sit them out.'"
The leaflet does not underplay the risks of ignoring the advice. It, like the one launched by the Irish Rugby Football Union last November, explicitly states that concussion can be fatal.
Scotland's cabinet secretary for education, Michael Russell, said: "Benjamin's death was a tragic case. His parents have been instrumental in ensuring there is a clear message to schools and sports clubs that concussion should be taken seriously and that anyone suspected of sustaining such an injury should be immediately removed from play."
Shona Robison, Scotland's minister for sport, said: "This is a potentially lifesaving message that will help keep children as safe as possible. Sport leads to a better, healthier and longer life. Let's not undermine this by gambling on a head injury."
Peter Robinson is clear that the Scottish government, along with the Scottish Rugby Union, has been especially receptive to his effort. Other countries and boards have been less so. He is due to meet with representatives of the Department for Education in Westminster to discuss the situation in English schools in the near future.
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