- Concussion Awareness Now is comprised of nearly 20 advocacy
groups focused on brain injury and will work to raise awareness
about the importance of diagnosis and treatment for
concussions
- The vast majority of concussions happen in everyday accidents,
and over half of people who suspect they have a concussion never
get it checked
- Rebel Wilson sustained a concussion while on set producing and
acting in a movie and is sharing her personal story to help raise
awareness
ABBOTT PARK, Ill., and
WASHINGTON, Dec. 13,
2022 /PRNewswire/ -- Abbott (NYSE: ABT) and the Brain
Injury Association of America announced today they have cofounded a
coalition of nearly 20 advocacy groups, and are teaming up with
acclaimed actress, comedian, writer and producer Rebel Wilson to
raise awareness of the seriousness of concussions.
The coalition, called Concussion Awareness Now, will produce
educational campaigns and other awareness efforts focused on
seeking care for a possible concussion. According to a recent
coalition survey, over half of people who suspect they have a
concussion never get it checked. With blows to the head, phrases
like "tough it out" and "walk it off" are the norm. And while that
kind of direction may be appropriate for a skinned knee, it's never
the answer for a potential brain injury.
Wilson is sharing her personal concussion story as part of the
coalition's debut campaign. She suffered a concussion after
slipping on wet grass while filming a movie.
"People often believe only athletes and stunt doubles get
concussions," Wilson said. "But in reality, concussions are almost
always everyday accidents like whacking my head when I fell down a
hill."
Wilson did seek care after her injury on set and is passionate
about raising awareness about the importance of concussion
care.
"Concussions can be invisible injuries, with the true impact
hidden beneath," said Dr. Beth
McQuiston, medical director in Abbott's diagnostics business
and board-certified neurologist. "Your brain impacts every aspect
of who you are, which is why it's so important to understand that
concussions are serious injuries, and that they require a diagnosis
and care."
There are many misconceptions around concussions. In a coalition
survey of 3,000 people conducted last month, 84% of people falsely
believed athletes are most at risk for concussion (about 3% of
concussions that present to the emergency room are a result of
sports injuries). Furthermore, 56% indicated that they believed you
have to hit your head to sustain a concussion, when in fact
concussions can occur after blasts or whiplash (commonly in car
accidents) as well.
Concussion Awareness Now brings together nearly 20 groups in the
brain injury space. They represent people who have sustained
brain injuries, their caregivers and those who treat brain injury,
from veterans, older adults and victims of domestic violence to
emergency care physicians, physicians' assistants and urgent care
centers to athletic trainers.
"With Concussion Awareness Now, we have no small goal," said
Susan Connors, chief executive
officer of the Brain Injury Association of America. "We want to
change the societal norm about concussions so that when you sustain
a potentially serious hit or jolt to your head, or your loved one
does, you won't hesitate to get it checked and get on the right
path to the best possible care."
To learn more about the coalition and its cause, please visit
ConcussionAwarenessNow.org. Concussion Awareness Now members
include:
- Abbott (Co-Chair)
- Brain Injury Association of America (BIAA) (Co-Chair)
- American Academy of Physician Assistants (AAPA)
- American Physical Therapy Association (APTA)
- American Therapeutic Recreation Association (ATRA)
- American Speech-Language-Hearing Association (ASHA)
- Center on Partner-Inflicted Brain Injury (part of Ohio Domestic
Violence Network)
- International Sports Vision Association (ISVA)
- Missouri Athletic Trainers Association (MOATA)
- National Association of State Head Injury Administrators
(NASHIA)
- National Athletic Trainers Association (NATA)
- National Council on Aging (NCOA)
- National Neurotrauma Society (NNS)
- Neuro-Optometric Rehabilitation Association (NORA)
- Pink Concussions
- Safe Living Space (SLS)
- United States Brain Injury Alliance (USBIA)
- Urgent Care Association/College of Urgent Care Medicine
(UCA/CUCM)
- Wounded Warrior Project (WWP)
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.
Learn more at www.biausa.org, on Facebook at
www.facebook.com/BrainInjuryAssociationofAmerica, on Instagram at
@bia_usa, and on LinkedIn at
www.linkedin.com/company/brain-injury-association-of-america.
About Abbott
Abbott is a global healthcare leader that helps people live more
fully at all stages of life. Our portfolio of life-changing
technologies spans the spectrum of healthcare, with leading
businesses and products in diagnostics, medical devices,
nutritionals and branded generic medicines. Our 113,000 colleagues
serve people in more than 160 countries.
Connect with us at www.abbott.com, on LinkedIn
at www.linkedin.com/company/abbott-/, on Facebook
at www.facebook.com/Abbott and on Twitter
@AbbottNews.
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SOURCE Abbott