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Senator Hassan Introduces Bipartisan Resolution Recognizing September 20 as National Concussion Awareness Day

WASHINGTON – U.S. Senators Maggie Hassan (D-NH), Shelley Moore Capito (R-WV), Bob Casey (D-PA), and Markwayne Mullin (R-OK) are recognizing today, Friday, September 20th, as National Concussion Awareness Day. Senator Hassan has spearheaded Concussion Awareness Day since her time as Governor of New Hampshire, following the advocacy of Brooke Mills, a 25-year-old Granite Stater who experienced a life-altering concussion during her high school years.

“Every year, many Granite Staters and Americans experience concussions, yet the full scope of these injuries often goes unrecognized,” said Senator Hassan. “This resolution to recognize National Concussion Awareness Day is an important step in our ongoing efforts to educate the public about traumatic brain injuries, from how they happen to how to recover. I am grateful to Granite Stater Brooke Mills and all the advocates who continue to spread awareness about concussions and push for better treatment.”

“Starting the conversation about concussions is more than just a campaign; it’s a commitment to protecting ourselves and those we care about. Every day, we have the opportunity to raise awareness, share stories, and support one another. I founded National Concussion Awareness Day because I believe that through open dialogue, we can break the stigma, empower individuals to seek help, and create a culture of not hiding this invisible injury. Let’s make it a priority to talk about concussions today and every day, because every voice matters and every conversation can make a difference,” said Brooke Mills.

Former Miss New Hampshire Brooke Mills first had the idea for National Concussion Awareness Day after suffering a life-altering concussion during her freshman year of high school. Following her advocacy, when Senator Hassan was Governor, Hassan marked Concussion Awareness Day in New Hampshire in 2016. Then she brought this effort to the Senate, introducing the National Concussion Awareness Day starting in 2019. In recognition of Brooke’s impactful work, Senator Hassan honored her as a Granite Stater of the Month that same year.

The resolution that Senator Hassan introduced recognizes September 20, 2024, as National Concussion Awareness Day, commends organizations that raise awareness about concussions, and encourages further research and prevention efforts.

Read the text of the resolution here or below:

Supporting the designation of September 20, 2024, 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—

  1. there are as many as 1,600,000 to 3,800,000 sports-related concussions annually;
  2. as many as 5,300,000 individuals live with the long-term effects of a traumatic brain injury;
  3. 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;
  4. 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;
  5. 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
  6. 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

Resolved, That the Senate—

  1. supports the designation of September 20, 2024, as ‘‘National Concussion Awareness Day’’;
  2. recognizes that mild traumatic brain injury, otherwise known as a concussion, is an important health concern;
  3. commends the organizations and individuals that raise awareness about mild traumatic brain injury;
  4. encourages Federal, State, and local policymakers to work together—
    1. to raise awareness about the effects of concussions; and
    2. to improve the understanding of proper diagnosis and management of concussions; and
  5. encourages further research and prevention efforts to ensure that fewer individuals experience the most adverse effects of mild traumatic brain injury.

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