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QCYC Concussion Management Policy

 
 

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QCYC Concussion Management Policy and Concussion Codes of Conduct Information

QCYC values the long-term health of all. As such, we have a comprehensive Concussion Management Policy that incorporates Concussion Management, Return to Sport and Return to Work, and associated practices and procedures to support all the elements of this Concussion Management Policy. While all concussions are a serious medical condition, no matter how, when and who received the injury,  as an organizer of competitive amateur sailboat racing in Ontario,  the Club's Concussion Management Policy needs to comply with Ontario's Rowan's Law.  To this end, in 2019 the QCYC Board of Directors  adopted the Ontario Sailing Concussion Management Policy and Concussion Codes of Conduct as they represents good practices around concussions in the sport of sailboat racing and compliance with Rowan's Law, and to promote a consistent concussion policy across yacht and sailing clubs in Ontario. This was reaffirmed by the Board in March 2020.

QCYC Concussion Management Policy

The QCYC Concussion Management Policy addresses the components required by Rowan’s Law:

  1. Education and Awareness
    1. Including Mandatory Government of Ontario Material
  2. Concussion Codes of Conduct
    1. Covering Athletes and Participants
    2. Covering Coaches  (This includes QCYC Learn-to-Sail Instructors)
    3. Covering Designated Person, which is necessary when the competitive athlete or participant is not coached
  3. Removal from Sport Protocols
  4. Return to Sport Protocols
  5. Tracking and Follow-up (Tracking and follow-up of actual or suspected concussions is key recovery, Return-to-Sport, and to developing prevention and mitigating improvements.)

CLICK HERE TO GO TO Person in Charge (PiC) & CREW ACCEPTANCE

The following required material support the QCYC Concussion Policy and Concussion Codes of Conduct

  1. Concussion Recognition Tool 5 - needs be to readily available to Coaches and Designated Persons. Additional copies available on Race Committee Notice Board in the QCYC's Clubhouse lobby.
  2. Procedures for Removal & Return to Sailing Handout - copies needs to be readily available to Coaches and Designated Persons to be given those with a concussion or suspected concussion. Additional copies available on Race Committee Notice Board in the QCYC's Clubhouse lobby.

With these being adopted as is from the Ontario Sailing Concussion Management Policy

As noted above, where the participant isn’t coached, there will be a Designated Person. How this is addressed is specific to the type of event. The details will be in the event’s Notice of Race (NOR) and its registration process. In the case of events such as QCYC Wednesday Racing Series, Champion of Champions, Last Chance Cup, Women Open Regatta (WOR), etc., an entry requirement is that the Person in Charge (PIC) of a racing sailboat is the Designated Person. This is consistent with their responsibility for those embarked on their vessel.  QCYC and the organizers of its competitive sailboat racing events will provide support to Designated Persons to fulfill their role, before, during and after racing. In situtions where the Person in Charge is the Designated Person on a crewed sailboat, the Person in Charge needs to appoint a backup Designated Person in case the Person in Charges has a concussion or suspected concussion. 

The registration processes for QCYC Learn-to-Sail and competitive sailboat racing events, including where QCYC is a co organizing authority, e.g. LORC, have the capacity for you to electronic signature that you have reviewed the mandatory awareness material, QCYC Concussion Policy and that you are agreeing to abide by the appropriate Codes of Conduct. In situations were athletes or participants, i.e., Wednesday night racing crews, don't normally register, they can provide the Club their electronic signature here {Link to process to be added here}

An important component of reducing the impact of concussions is increased understanding about concussions through education. This includes mandatory concussion awareness and educational material provided by the Government of Ontario that needs to be reviewed annually by those individuals that, by law, need to sign that they have done so.

Education and Awareness Material

  1. Government of Ontario mandatory Awareness Material  (Mandatory awareness material is age specific) 
  2. Ontario Sailing Concussion Information

Tracking and Follow-up

Tracking and follow-up of actual or suspected concussions is key recovery, Return-to-Sport, and to developing prevention and mitigating improvements.  QCYC has an Incident Reporting Process to cover concussions and other situations that result injury, damage to equipment and facilities or impairment of services. To comply with the QCYC Concussion Policy and Codes of Conduct on reporting or to report any other incident, please complete the QCYC Incident Form (PDF Fillable) and email it to the Club, by attaching the completed form or dropping it off at the Club Office.

Once you have reviewed the concussion awareness and educational material click the link that applies to you to sign that you have done so:

ACCEPTANCE LINKS:

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QCYC Educational Material

Wednesday Educational Session: "Protecting Your Head": Concussions & Rowan's Law - What Sailors Need to Know!  (March 29, 2023)

  1. Presentation
  2. Presentation Recording

Wednesday Educational Session: Protecting Your Head: Concussions for Dummies (April 20, 2022)

  1. Presentation
  2. Presentation Recording

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