The initiative provides a platform for injury surveillance, data collection and analysis to support resources, programs, education and policies to reduce and prevent injury during physical activity.

Ken Bocking, MD, FRCS(C), FACS

Ken Bocking, MD, FRCS(C), FACS,  of St. Thomas, Ontario is the recipient of the 2011 Dr. Tom Pashby Sports Safety Fund Award given to a Canadian who has contributed significantly to the prevention of catastrophic injuries in sport and recreation.

Dr. Bocking graduated medicine in 1975 from the University of Western Ontario. He established a practice in St. Thomas and became Chief of Staff and Chief of Surgery at St. Thomas-Elgin General Hospital but his avocation was amateur hockey where he coached and later served as physician to the St. Thomas Stars junior B where his observations set him on a course that changed hockey.

“Ás a team doctor, I saw at least four to six concussions a year of varying degrees from severe to major,” he says. And when his son Steven suffered two concussions followed by post concussion syndrome, he could no longer remain silent.

He was horrified and broke ranks.  Dr. Bocking wrote to Ontario Hockey Association president Brent Ladds in the mid 1990s when people believed concussions were just part of the game.  Ladds convened a meeting between Dr. Bocking, himself and safety expert Dr. Pat Bishop.

“At that time there were no rules against hits to the head,” Dr. Bishop recalls. “Dr. Bocking wanted to stop the concussion parade.  He is clearly the guy who brought the concussion problem to hockey.”

The crusade began with Bocking’s persistence. A Committee including Dr. Bocking, Ladds, Bishop, Dr. Tom Pashby and three others formed a committee in 1999-2000 designed to penalize and reduce checks to the head.

The result was the OHA becoming the first hockey association to put a “no head checking” rule on the books.  Dr. Bockings continued his mission working with Ladds who had the voice at Canadian Hockey Association meetings.  A couple of years later, Hockey Canada followed suit.  The men also lobbied the NHLPA.

Dr. Bocking’s outstanding commitment towards eliminating hits to the head continues today as he volunteers his time as a speaker and advocate for the prevention of catastrophic injuries related to hits to the head.

This year Hockey Canada has implemented a no tolerance to hits to the head.

Read the full press release.

Links: Criteria & Guidelines, Critères et Directives

It was an extraordinary press conference. Four people were at the media table in a spare setting at Pittsburgh’s Consol Energy Center: Penguins general manager Ray Shero, concussion specialist Michael Collins, chiropractor Ted Carrick and Sidney Crosby. They were serious and straightforward. Through nearly 45 intense minutes, they offered almost no smoke or spin.

Read the full story here.

2011 Nomination Deadline: Closed

Details:
Nomination Form (PDF), Criteria & Guidelines, Fact Sheet
Formulaire De Candidature (PDF), Critères et Directives, Fiche Documentaire

The Dr. Tom Pashby Sports Safety Award recognizes outstanding contributions towards the prevention of catastrophic injuries in sport and recreational activities. The award could be won by researchers, sports equipment or facility designers, doctors, trainers, educators, entrepreneurs, rule makers, organizers, innovative athletes, coaches, referees, writers, broadcasters, parents or any concerned Canadian citizen. The Award comes with a $10,000 cash prize.

In presenting this Award, the Dr. Tom Pashby Sports Safety Fund is pleased to have the support of Canada ‘s Sports Hall of Fame. The Pashby Sports Safety Award and its winners will become part of a new Sport Safety display being designed for the Hall.

View past recipients.

Dr. J. Scott Delaney

A 1991 medical graduate of McGill University, Dr. Delaney has degrees in Family Practice, Emergency Medicine and Sports Medicine. He is currently the research director for the McGill University Health Centre Adult Emergency Department; is an associate professor at McGill University and is a team physician for the Montreal Alouettes, Montreal Impact, McGill Football, McGill Men’s and Women’s Soccer teams and Cirque du Soleil.

He is a member of the editorial board for the Clinical Journal of Sport Medicine and his research interests include concussions and neck injuries in both the athletic and emergency department populations. He has authored approximately 40 research papers many in which he compares injuries in football soccer and ice hockey three of Canada’s most popular amateur and professional sports.

“He has worked to help implement a certifying standard for soccer headgear which (already) has been accepted in the United States,” says his colleague Dr. Vince Lacroix “ He is the rare individual who is able to marry a busy emergency and sport medicine practice, clinical research and teaching in the university setting. “

“He is a very young enthusiastic physician who cares a great deal,” says Dr. Robert Pashby president of the Dr. Tom Pashby Sports Safety Fund. “He has seen the trauma and consequences of severe injuries from these sports in his role as an emergency physician. He is diligently working towards the elusive goal of prevention of catastrophic injuries and that is our aim, too.”

“My father always said that Education is the first step to prevention,” Dr. Pashby continued. “We have chosen Dr. Delaney because he has done invaluable research and authored about 40 publications where he has been comparing injuries in the three most popular sports in Canada- soccer , hockey and football. We are also impressed with his focus on soccer whereas most of the research has been in hockey and football.”

Photo courtesy of Andrea Lai

Over the past 30 hockey seasons in Canada, 1914 eye injuries have been reported including 311 legally blinded eyes. 302 of the blind eyes were suffered by players wearing no eye protectors, 9 by players wearing visors whose helmets were not firmly attached to the head. Chin cups rather than neck straps should attach helmets securely to the head.

More eye injuries are reported by badminton players than racquetball, squash and tennis combined. 1135 racket sports eye injuries have been reported including 47 legally blind eyes. Badminton players and racquetball players must wear certified eye protectors with poly-carbonate lenses.

In Canada, in the past 19 years, war games (paintball games) have been responsible for 33 legally blind eyes. None of these players was wearing an eye protector provided. All players and spectators in the game field area must wear eye protection.

Golf balls weighing 1 1/2 ounces travel at a speed of 150 miles per hour and strike an object with energy of 75 foot lbs. (a 1 pound weight dropped 75 feet). During the past 21 years in Canada, 61 golf eye injuries have been reported, including 20 legally blind eyes. Never turn around to see who shouted “fore!”. Beware of balls ricocheting off trees!

Richard Kinar, Ski Helmet Advocate

Richard Kinar, the former freestyle skier and West Vancouver resident is the 2009 recipient of the Dr. Tom Pashby Sports Safety Fund Award.

Mr. Kinar has worked consistently and effectively within local communities, medical associations, the sport community and with politicians to promote the use of brain protecting helmets to limit the possibility and severity of head injury in sports and recreational activities.

After witnessing a serious collision between two young skiers that resulted in serious head injuries, Richard began a grassroots campaign to raise funds for the development of a Canadian standard for alpine ski and snowboard helmets. He has spent most of the past decade on a crusade to improve both helmet safety standards and effective injury prevention programs.

Despite running into resistance on a number of fronts, Mr. Kinar’s perserverence paid off. In March of 2009, the Canadian Standards Association announced Canada’s first Alpine Helmet Standard for Skiing, Snowboarding, Sledding and Tobogganing. According to the CSA, the standard in particular would not have been possible without the tireless efforts of Richard Kinar. His devotion to ski and snowboard safety ultimately led to the Government of British Columbia providing initial funding to make the standard possible.

But according to Mr. Kinar, beyond better helmets, broader usage of them is required, if injuries are to be reduced and lives saved. Richard believes all ski operators should make it mandatory for all staff to wear helmets while on the hill, to set a good example. The recent decision by Intrawest to make ski helmets mandatory for specific skiers and recommended for the rest is a step in the right direction and will hopefully have a ripple effect throughout the industry.

Mr. Kinar, 53, a member of the CSA Helmet Ski Committee, is the sixth person to receive the award which includes a $10,000 prize. While not promoting safety on the Ski Hills, Kinar works as a receiver and spends his spare time promoting his message including the documentary “Wipe Out”. The film shows the long term social and economic effects of preventable head injuries on three skiers. He is also a Board Member with the Brain Injury Association of Canada.

“Richard is very passionate about head protection and is a worthy recipient,” says Dr. Pat Bishop who chairs the Canadian Standards Association Committee on safety equipment and was the first winner of this prestigious award.

“He was most influential in getting the ski helmet standards passed,” Bishop said. “He convinced the politicians in British Columbia to provide the funding for the CSA to develop the CSA Standard.”

Never check another hockey player from behind nor to the head
…it could cause a serious head or spinal cord injury.

Hockey players must wear CSA approved facial protection.
In 30 years, there have been 311 legally blinded eyes. None of these players wore a certified full face protector. Half shields should be worn properly with a taut neck strap to hold the helmet and visor firmly in place. A chin cup as worn in football would be an improvement.

When tobogganing choose a hill that is hazard-free, has a safe stopping distance and one on which you can control your speed
…although fun and popular there are risks when tobogganing.

Certified eye protection should be worn when playing any racquet sport
…a squash ball or badminton bird can cause a serious eye injury.

When golfing remember to protect yourself when you hear “fore”, and call “fore” if your ball is heading towards others
…a golf ball can travel 240 kilometres per hour and can impact with a deadly amount of force.

When cycling always wear a certified helmet that has been properly fitted
…the majority of all cycling deaths result from head injuries.

When skateboarding always wear a properly fitted CSA- approved helmet designed specifically for skateboarding
…falls are common, but with proper training and protective gear most injuries are preventable.

Always wear your lifejacket or PFD when boating
…boating is the most frequent activity leading to drowning in Canada.

Supervise children closely around any body of water
…even 5 centimetres of water can be a drowning hazard for young children.

Always wear protective gear when in-line skating.
It is mandatory in some municipalities.

Before diving, check for depth and sharp objects.
50 to 60 Canadians break their necks each year diving into unknown waters

Rand Starkman, Sports Writer

Mr. Starkman is the fifth person to be so honoured and the first sportswriter to receive this prestigious award which includes a $10,000 prize.

He is being recognized for his extensive work in educating the public on the existence and problems surrounding catastrophic injuries in sports. The award will be presented at the Hockey Hall of Fame on Friday October 17 at 11:00 A.M.

“Starkman is one of a very few journalists in Canada who consistently brings to the public the causes and the consequences of these serious injuries,” says Al Stewart, a director of the Dr. Tom Pashby Sports Safety Fund and head of the committee that oversees the award. “His concern and his columns have made many more people aware of the vital need for preventive measures.”

Starkman, 48, of Toronto has been covering amateur sport for almost three decades and has been with The Star since 1988. He has written at least 11 features on concussions and helmets alone in the past 15 years. He has had five National Newspaper Award nominations, winning twice, including once (1992) for a revealing series of articles on concussions and unsafe helmets.

Toronto Star sports editor Mike Simpson says “Starkman has a passion for sport that is demonstrated day in and day out. The outstanding concussion feature he wrote last year was a fine example of both his work ethic and his desire to educate the reader. He was illuminating an issue that generally received little attention but clearly affects so many lives.”

Dave Perkins, a Star sports columnist and former sports editor nominated Starkman for this award. “All of Randy’s big projects have been self-initiated,” Perkins says. “The most any sport editor ever did was sign off and give him the space to operate. He does everything himself, from conception through research to writing,” states Perkins.

“These stories are not generally sexy ideas,” adds Perkins. “They’re about difficult issues rather than engaging personalities. The subject matter can become very dry very quickly but ‘Starks’ keeps it easily understandable, often with the use of anecdotes he uncovers from subjects he interviews.

“Most of all he cares if his stories make a difference,” says Perkins. “Often they do. And you can’t ask for much more than that from any journalist.”

Randy’s ‘caring nature’ goes beyond his ability to pen a compelling story. He has volunteered at Bloorview Children’s Hospital, Dovercourt Boys and Girls Club, been a Big Brother and works with The Children’s Breakfast Club. He is married to Mary Hinds and has a teenage daughter Ella.

The four previous Pashby Award winners are: Pat Bishop, professor emeritus in Kinesiology at University of Waterloo; neurosurgeon Dr. Karen Johnston; Dr. Mark Aubry, chief medical officer of the International Ice Hockey Federation and Hockey Canada; and Kevin Stubbington, a grass roots hockey volunteer who developed the STOP sign (Safety Toward Other Players) that is seen on the backs of many hockey jerseys across Canada.