Event to raise awareness of law on concussion prevention, named after teen athlete who died from concussion complications
On Sept. 25, Lisa MacLeod, Minister of Tourism, Culture and Sport, will lead the commemoration of Rowan’s Law Day in Nepean, ON and raise awareness of concussion safety.
Rowan’s Law is named after Rowan Stringer, a high school rugby player from Ottawa, who died at the age of 17 in 2013 from second impact syndrome. The syndrome is characterized by swelling of the brain caused by a subsequent injury that occurred before a previous injury healed, a page from the Ontario government’s website said. Stringer was believed to have experienced three concussions over six days while playing rugby, but she, as well as her parents, teachers and coaches, were unaware that her brain needed time to heal.
Rowan’s Law (Concussion Safety) was passed in 2018, putting into law concussion prevention and management practices, as well as making relevant amendments to the Education Act. To raise awareness of concussion safety among the sporting and academic communities, as well as the general public, the last Wednesday of September has been designated as Rowan’s Law Day.
MacLeod will be joined by Gordon Stringer, Rowan’s father, to mark the second annual Rowan’s Law Day.
