If in doubt, sit it out

This morning Shona Robison the Sports Minister and myself launched a youth sports concussion awareness leaflet at the Trinity Academy sports ground in Edinburgh.

The driving force behind this campaign is Peter Robinson, pictured here at the event. today , whose son Ben died three years ago playing rugby for Carrickfergus Grammar School in Northern Ireland.

Ben, who was a star rugby player and desperately keen for his team to win, sustained concussion in the first four minutes of the second half. He insisted on carrying on playing and was involved in two further clashes during the game. In the final minutes he collapsed and despite immediate medical attention he never recovered.

Ben had "second impact syndrome " which occurs when two or more concussive type injuries are sustained in a short period of time. It is very rare but it can be avoided. by the simple precaution of sitting out from the game, and the chance of a second impact, after any suspected concussion incident . Work by , amongst others, Dr Willie Stewart , a consultant neuropathologist at Glasgow's Southern General, has shown that awareness of the danger is greater amongst those who have had concussion training but that recognition of concussion was not as great as it should be.

Ben's father and family have been very courageously campaigning for an increase in public awareness led by Governments and when Shona and I met him last September we were keen to help. So the leaflet we have published today will be sent to every school, will be on school bags and sports bags, will be provided to sports clubs and will be promoted by bodies such as the SRU whose Chief Medical Officer , Dr James Robson was also with us today.

Many of the youngsters at the School of Rugby event were aware of this issue but admitted they needed some additional help to recognise the symptoms and some encouragement to "sit it out". Peter was keen to provide that information and I now hope the other administrations in these islands will also help him out in his campaign.