Brain Injury Prevention

At least 1.7 million people sustain a traumatic brain injury (TBI) in the United States each year.  Brain injuries are caused by a bump or blow to the head.  These injuries sometimes are called concussions or traumatic brain injuries (TBIs) and can range from mild to severe.  Most mild brain injuries cause no harm.  But sometimes even mild brain injuries can cause serious, long-lasting problems.  The best way to protect yourself and your family from brain injuries is to prevent them from happening in the first place.  Injury prevention is one of the most significant health care issues in the United States.  Most brain injuries can be prevented.  Each year 50,000 persons die from brain injuries and 80,000 to 90,000 people experience long term disability.

Here are some tips from the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) and the Brain Injury Association of America to reduce the chances that you or your family members will have a brain injury.

• Wear a seat belt every time you drive or ride in a motor vehicle.
• Always buckle your child into a child safety seat, booster seat, or seat belt (according to the child’s height, weight, and age) in the car.
• Small children should always sit in the back seat of a car.
• Never drive while under the influence of alcohol or drugs including prescription medications that can impair your ability to drive.
• Wear a helmet and make sure your children wear helmets when:
• Riding a bike, motorcycle, snowmobile, or all-terrain vehicle;
• Playing a contact sport, such as football, ice hockey, or boxing;
• Using in-line skates or riding a skateboard;
• Batting and running bases in baseball or softball;
• Riding a horse; or
• Skiing or snowboarding.

Avoid falls in the home by:

• Using a step stool with a grab bar to reach objects on high shelves;
• Installing handrails on stairways;
• Installing window guards to keep young children from falling out of open windows;
• Using safety gates at the top and bottom of stairs when young children are around;
• Removing tripping hazards such as small area rugs and loose electrical cords;
• Using non-slip mats in the bathtub and on shower floors;
• Putting grab bars next to the toilet and in the tub or shower;
• Maintaining a regular exercise program to improve strength, balance, and coordination; and
• Seeing an eye doctor regularly for a vision check to help lower the risk of falling.
• Make sure the surface on your child’s playground is made of shock-absorbing material, such as hardwood, mulch, and sand.
• Keep firearms stored unloaded in a locked cabinet or safe. Store bullets in a separate secured location.

Preventing falls

• The following tips can help older adults avoid falls around the house:
• Install handrails in bathrooms
• Put a nonslip mat in the bathtub or shower
• Remove area rugs
• Install handrails on both sides of staircases
• Improve lighting in the home
• Keep stairs and floors clear of clutter
• Get regular vision checkups
• Get regular exercise

Preventing head injuries in children

The following tips can help children avoid head injuries:

• Install safety gates at the top of stairs
• Install child-height handrails on staircases
• Keep stairs clear of clutter
• Install window guards to prevent falls
• Put a nonslip mat in the bathtub or shower
• Use playgrounds that have shock-absorbing materials on the ground
• Don’t let children play on fire escapes or balconies

The true extent of brain injury is conveyed by numbers.  Lives, hopes, dreams, families, and friendships are often altered in the wake of a brain injury.  Research, rehabilitation, public awareness, and prevention can help to lessen the occurrence to brain injuries in our society.