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Buffalo Sabres partner with PUCCS for concussion awareness program

by jmaloni

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Wed, Feb 25th 2015 04:25 pm

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. 25-26.

"Every year, more than 3 million people in the United States suffer from concussions due to sports or recreational activities," PUCCS founder and President Dr. Elad Levy said. "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 featuring Sabres forward Patrick Kaleta and Buffalo Bills running back Fred Jackson. The two players will sign autographs from 7-8 p.m. at the Tony Walker Center, 5110 Main St., Williamsville.

Tomorrow's Sabres game against the Vancouver Canucks will have a "Concussion Awareness Night" theme. Representatives from PUCCS will be on hand to distribute concussion awareness cards and help promote risk reduction for concussions.

The game also will 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 who donates $25 or more will be entered into a drawing to win autographed memorabilia.

The Centers for Disease Control states:

•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 Levy, chair of UB neurosurgery, in response to what he called an "epidemic" of injuries related to concussion in youth.

PUCCS' mission is to provide the tools necessary to understand and prevent concussions as an injury in all sports. 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. It 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, visit www.PUCCS.org.

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