Senate and House Recognize National Concussion Awareness Day
September 20, 2019
VIENNA, Va. – The Brain Injury Association of America (BIAA) thanks Reps. Bill Pascrell, Jr. (D-N.J.) and Don Bacon (R-Neb.) and Sens. Maggie Hassan (D-N.H.) and Shelley Moore Capito (R-W.Va.) for their leadership in introducing a bipartisan resolution to recognize Sept. 20 as National Concussion Awareness Day. The resolution commends organizations and individuals that raise awareness of mild traumatic brain injury (also known as concussion or mTBI).
New Hampshire self-advocate Brooke Mills is one of those individuals. Through her partnership with BIAA, Brooke has increased awareness of the serious risks posed by concussion and raised funds to support the nation’s oldest and largest brain injury advocacy organization. Concussion is a growing health concern for children, teens, and adults. From 2001 to 2012, the rate of emergency department visits for sports and recreation-related injuries with a diagnosis of concussion or TBI, alone or in combination with other injuries, more than doubled among children aged 19 or younger.
The Centers for Disease Control and Prevention estimates that more than 2.8 million Americans sustain brain injuries each year. “This is just the tip of the iceberg,” says BIAA President/CEO Susan Connors, “since current data sources may only capture 1 out of every 9 concussions across the nation.”
For more information about brain injury and concussion, please refer to the Brain Injury Association of America’s Concussion Information Center.
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About the Brain Injury Association of America:
The Brain Injury Association of America is the country’s oldest and largest nationwide brain injury advocacy organization. Our mission is to advance awareness, research, treatment, and education and to improve the quality of life for all people affected by brain injury. We are dedicated to increasing access to quality health care and raising awareness and understanding of brain injury.
