BUFFALO, N.Y. — The Buffalo Sabres today announced the team is partnering with the Program for Understanding Childhood Concussion and Stroke and for a concussion awareness program Feb. 25 and 26.
“Every year more than 3 million people in the United States suffer from concussions due to sports or recreational activities,” said PUCCS founder and president Dr. Elad Levy. “It’s critical that athletes, coaches and parents recognize when a concussion has occurred – even a mild one – and have it properly treated and healed before returning to play.”
PUCCS is sponsoring an autograph signing today, Feb. 25, featuring Sabres forward Patrick Kaleta and Buffalo Bills running back Fred Jackson. The two players will be signing autographs at the Tony Walker Center (5110 Main Street in Williamsville) from 7 to 8 p.m.
The Feb. 26 Sabres game against the Vancouver Canucks will be Concussion Awareness Night, and representatives from PUCCS will be on hand to distribute their concussion awareness cards and help promote risk reduction for concussions.
The game will also signal the beginning of a text to donate campaign designed to raise money so PUCCS can provide baseline testing for inner-city student athletes and expand the program’s educational outreach. Donors can text “1HIT” to 41444 to donate. Anyone that donates $25 or more will be entered into a drawing to win autographed memorabilia.
According to the Center for Disease Control:
· Fewer than 10 percent of all sports-related concussions involve a loss of consciousness
· 47 percent of athletes who suffer a concussive blow do not report feeling any symptoms
· On average, 421 people suffer sports or recreational activity-related concussions every hour
· Of those, 275 people will receive no care for their concussion
PUCCS was founded in 2011 by Dr. Elad Levy, Chair of UB Neurosurgery, in response to what he calls an “epidemic” of injuries related to concussion in youth. The mission of PUCCS is to provide the tools necessary to understand and prevent concussions as an injury in all sports. To date PUCCS, a 501(c) 3 not for profit organization, has raised funds in order to help enhance the scientific understanding of concussion diagnosis and treatment by funding research; and provides educational information to student and adult athletes, parents, coaches, trainers and health care professionals. To learn more about PUCCS and concussion risk and management, please visit PUCCS.org.
