Alarm bells raised over young P.E.I. hockey players’ use of smelling salts as performance boosters

A concerned grandmother of minor hockey players on Prince Edward Island is leading a campaign to ban smelling salts from rinks across the province. Barbara Brookins, who has several grandchildren between the ages of nine and 15 playing minor hockey, noticed a troubling product in a vending machine at her home arena in Kensington. The bottles are labelled as “hockey smelling salts,” and many young players are using them under the misconception that they are performance enhancers.

Brookins, a registered nurse, is alarmed by the use of smelling salts by young athletes. She believes that promoting the use of these products sends the wrong message to children and can have potentially harmful consequences. “Smelling salts are not intended as a performance-enhancing medication of any kind, and even if they were, are we really promoting that our children use any type of performance enhancement?” she said. “We’re telling our children that it’s OK to sniff ammonia.”

The use of smelling salts to revive people after fainting dates back centuries, but they are now marketed towards athletes as an energy boost. However, Hockey Quebec recently banned the use of smelling salts, citing concerns over their use by young players. Health Canada has also stated that it has not authorized the sale of any ammonia-based health products for inhalation purposes in Canada.

Dr. Heather Morrison, the chief public health officer of Prince Edward Island, has expressed concerns about the health risks associated with smelling salts. She warns that inhaling ammonia can lead to coughing, airway constriction, and irritation of the eyes, nose, and throat. Morrison is working with Hockey P.E.I. to raise awareness about the dangers of using smelling salts.

Brookins believes that the use of smelling salts by young hockey players can lead to peer pressure and potentially harmful effects, especially for children with asthma. She has garnered the attention of Hockey P.E.I. and the province’s chief public health officer in her campaign to ban the use of smelling salts in rinks across the province.

While Hockey P.E.I. does not currently have a policy regarding stimulant products like smelling salts, they do not recommend their use and caution parents to be aware of the availability of these products. Some rinks in Prince Edward Island have already taken steps to remove smelling salts from vending machines, and Health Canada encourages people to report any incidents of their sale.

In conclusion, the campaign led by Barbara Brookins highlights the importance of promoting the safety and well-being of young athletes in minor hockey. By raising awareness about the potential risks of using smelling salts, she hopes to create a safer environment for children participating in the sport.