Concussion Awareness Now: One Year In
By Rick Willis, President & CEO, Brain Injury Association of America
When the Concussion Awareness Now coalition was launched in December 2022, I was just coming on board as the president and CEO of the Brain Injury Association of America. BIAA has a distinguished legacy spanning more than four decades as the voice of brain injury, yet I also saw incredible opportunity on the horizon. Concussion Awareness Now is an excellent example of one of those incredible opportunities to continue the mission of making a difference in the lives of individuals with brain injury and the people who love them.
Over the past year, Concussion Awareness Now has worked tirelessly to change the way people think about concussions. Our coalition has built a library of resources, from PSAs to brochures to posters, to help members of our community understand what a concussion is, what the symptoms of a concussion are, and how to take action if you suspect that you or someone you know has suffered a concussion. Because of Concussion Awareness Now Champions like you, who have committed to caring for yourself and others by not ignoring the signs of a concussion and shared that commitment with your families, friends, and communities, we have been able to share our message and our mission with millions of people.
In March, we launched our Melon Family PSAs, which show members of the intergenerational Melon Family getting concussions in a number of different ways, including tripping over a toy, walking while distracted by a cellphone, and playing pickleball. These PSAs have been shown online and on television – including during the World Series this past fall.
Over the summer, we took our message – and the Melons – on the road to the National Athletic Trainers’ Association and National Neurotrauma Society conferences, where people posed with our Melon Family characters while learning how to become champions for our cause.
For Concussion Awareness Day in September, we launched the Melon Pledge, where we asked people to help us in our efforts to create a future where every person with a concussion receives the right diagnosis, the best possible care, and the resources and information they need, and to share their commitment to the cause on social media.
We are excited that you have become a part of our community during its first year, and we are grateful to you for your dedication and commitment to spreading our message to a wider audience. We cannot wait to see what’s in store for all of us in 2024.