From Ski Hills to Parliament Hill: June is Brain Injury Awareness Month in Canada
GATINEAU, QC, Jun 2, 2008 -- The Brain Injury Association of Canada and its national partners are gearing up for Brain Injury Awareness Month in Canada, June 2008. From the movie house to the House of Commons, events aiming to inform and protect Canadians against this costly, yet preventable injury will occur throughout the month.
"Some sport helmets sold in Canada offer no more protection than putting a bag of milk over your head." - Ski Canada Magazine (December 2002)
Locally and nationally, Brain Injury Awareness Month brings to light the ongoing struggle organizations such as the Brain Injury Association of Canada have chosen to undertake to reduce the number of preventable injuries in Canada, including brain injuries. Treating preventable injuries costs Canadians $14.7 billion per year. This price is putting Canadian business at an economic disadvantage, lowering the standard of living for all Canadians, and putting our publicly funded health care system at risk.
In June, the BIAC will ask Canadians to do their part to protect themselves, and their children. Many communities and legislators are already doing their part. Olympic host municipality, West Vancouver, has taken a resolution to the Federation of Canadian Municipalities urging them to develop a national injury prevention strategy. The Canadian Standards Association will publish, in June, the world's best standard for ski and snow-board helmets; however, helmet manufacturers have refused to apply these standards unless legislated to by the federal government.
Dr. Hedy Fry, MP for Vancouver Centre, has written to Prime Minister Harper, asking for an Order in Council to have her private members bill (C-412) passed. Bill C-412, if enacted would amend the Hazardous Products Act, and prohibit the advertising, sale, or import into Canada of recreational snow sport helmets that do not meet the requirements of applicable Canadian Standards Association specifications.
"There is no legislation requiring other sport helmets to be CSA approved. This places many children and youth at risk of serious brain injuries or death." - George Abbott, Health Minister, British Columbia
To support Dr. Fry's efforts, Canadians are asked to visit www.mostisnotenough.ca so they can tell our prime minister and health minister that we need Bill C-412. Until such a law is passed, our government is turning its back on the leading killer and disabler of children and young adults in Canada. As a result, Canada will remain near the bottom of a list of countries whose governments invest in youth injury prevention programmes.
- FOX NEWS June 3, 2008
