Sport P.E.I. joins call to ban smelling salts from being used in Island rinks
‘Hopefully, Hockey P.E.I. will follow the lead of Quebec,’ says the group’s director
The organization representing sports groups on Prince Edward Island is calling on Hockey P.E.I. to ban the use of smelling salts among its young athletes, following concerns about their easy accessibility and potential dangers.
Sport P.E.I. recently issued a statement to raise awareness among parents, coaches and athletes about the risks associated with these ammonia-based inhalants.
The call follows a campaign by Barbara Brookins, a grandmother with several grandchildren in minor hockey, who was alarmed to find large, reusable bottles of smelling salts being sold in vending machines at Island rinks, with young players using them as performance enhancers. She has since been advocating for a ban across the province.
This month, Hockey Quebec banned the use of smelling salts, citing concern over their use by young players.
Randy Goodman, the director of athlete performance for Sport P.E.I., said he hopes a similar ban will be implemented on the Island.
"Hopefully, Hockey P.E.I. will follow the lead of Quebec," Goodman said. "I'm hoping they'll do this and follow through, and I think they probably will."
Health risks cited
Goodman, who has more than 30 years of experience in the sports industry, said smelling salts were traditionally used to revive athletes who had fainted.
But today they are marketed toward athletes as an energy boost, and are a common sight on the benches of National Hockey League teams.
"The challenge with that is that it only lasts for a very short amount of time, and it's pretty detrimental to kids," said Goodman, who is also a clinical specialist in sport physiotherapy.
"There's some serious side effects that can happen."
He said smelling salts can trigger asthma attacks, nausea, vomiting, headaches, and in some cases, permanent damage to the nose or lungs. The ammonia can also react with moisture in the nose to cause chemical burns.
Goodman echoed what P.E.I.'s Chief Public Health Officer Heather Morrison previously told CBC News: There is little scientific evidence supporting claims that smelling salts can enhance athletic performance.
The CPHO has contacted Hockey P.E.I. to raise awareness about the potential for adverse health effects.
Health Canada also told CBC News that it has not authorized the sale of any ammonia-based health products for inhalation in Canada.
The agency warns that inhaling ammonia can lead to airway constriction, coughing and irritation. It strongly advises against purchasing unapproved inhalants marketed as energy enhancers, adding that selling unauthorized health products or making false health claims is illegal.
With files from Cody MacKay