III
118th CONGRESS
1st Session
S. RES. 345
IN THE SENATE OF THE UNITED STATES
September 14, 2023
Ms. Hassan (for herself, Mrs. Capito, and Mr. Casey) submitted the following resolution; which was considered and agreed to
RESOLUTION
Supporting the designation of September 15, 2023, as National Concussion Awareness Day
.
Whereas mild traumatic brain injury, otherwise known as a concussion, is an important health concern for children, teens, and adults;
Whereas, according to information from the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention—
there are as many as 1,600,000 to 3,800,000 sports-related concussions annually;
as many as 5,300,000 individuals live with the long-term effects of a traumatic brain injury;
between 2010 and 2016, an estimated 2,000,000 children under age 18 visited an emergency department because of a traumatic brain injury sustained during sports- or recreation-related activities;
each year an estimated 283,000 children seek care in emergency departments in the United States for a sports- or recreation-related traumatic brain injury, with traumatic brain injuries sustained in contact sports accounting for approximately 45 percent of those visits;
research suggests that many children with a traumatic brain injury do not seek care in emergency departments or do not seek care at all, resulting in a significant underestimate of prevalence; and
approximately 15 percent of all high school students in the United States self-reported 1 or more sports- or recreation-related concussions within the preceding 12 months;
Whereas the seriousness of concussions should not be minimized in athletics, and return-to-play and return-to-learn protocols can help ensure recovery;
Whereas concussions can affect physical, mental, and social health, and a greater awareness and understanding of proper diagnosis and management of concussions is critical to improved outcomes; and
Whereas the Senate can raise awareness about concussions among the medical community and the public: Now, therefore, be it
That the Senate—
supports the designation of September 15, 2023, as National Concussion Awareness Day
;
recognizes that mild traumatic brain injury, otherwise known as a concussion, is an important health concern;
commends the organizations and individuals that raise awareness about mild traumatic brain injury;
encourages Federal, State, and local policymakers to work together—
to raise awareness about the effects of concussions; and
to improve the understanding of proper diagnosis and management of concussions; and
encourages further research and prevention efforts to ensure that fewer individuals experience the most adverse effects of mild traumatic brain injury.