Submitted By Kim Hylander
Prince William Fire and Rescue Department
Traumatic Brain Injury (TBI) which affects an estimated 1.7 million people in the U.S. each year is on the rise. TBI is caused by a bump, blow or jolt to the head. According to the National Center for Injury Prevention and Control (NCIPC), of the total TBIs that occur, 75% are concussions or other mild forms of TBI.
TBI occurs every 23 seconds; of those injured, 52,000 die. According to Brain Injury Association of America, TBI is a contributing factor in one third (30.5%) of those deaths.
TBI is a contributing factor in hospitalizations with falls and motor vehicle crashes as the leading contributors of TBI-related hospitalizations. In Virginia, during 2009, falls accounted for 59% TBI-related hospitalizations and 28% of motor vehicle crashes. Traumatic Brain Injuries also cost Virginia, $241 million, and the nation, $56.3 billion, in healthcare services, medication and loss in productivity.
Traumatic Brain Injuries can cause a wide range of functional changes that affect:
Thinking (memory and reasoning)
Sensation (touch, taste, and smell)
Language (communication, expression, and understanding)
Emotion (depression, anxiety, personality changes, aggression, acting out, and social inappropriateness)
TBI can cause epilepsy increasing one’s chances of acquiring conditions as Alzheimer’s disease and Parkinson’s disease; conditions often associated with aging.
March is Brain Injury Awareness Month. Prince William County Department of Fire and Rescue (www.pwcgov.org/fire) suggests the following safety measures to protect your family from brain injuries:
Always wear a seat belt when you drive or ride in a motor vehicle.
Always buckle your child in a child safety seat, booster seat or seat belt in the car.
Never, ever, shake a baby.
Never drive while under the influence of alcohol or drugs.
Always wear a helmet when playing sports or enjoying outdoor activities:
Riding a bike, motorcycle, snowmobile, or all-terrain vehicle.
Playing contact sports.
Using inline skates or riding a skateboard.
Batting and running bases in baseball or softball.
Riding a horse, skiing or snowboarding.
Check the surface of your child’s playground to make sure it is made of shock-absorbing material such as hardwood, mulch, and sand.
Keep firearms unloaded and stored in a locked cabinet or safe (store bullets in a separate location).
To avoid falls in the home:
Use a step stool with a grab bar to reach objects on high shelves.
Install handrails on stairways.
Install window guards on open windows to keep young children from falling out.
Use safety gates at the top and bottom of stairs when young children are present.
Remove small area rugs and loose electrical cords; they are tripping hazards.
Use non-slip mats in the bathtub and on shower floors.
Place grab bars next to the toilet and in the tub or shower.
Additional safety tips you can follow to prevent falling and reduce the risk of brain injuries are:
Maintain a regular exercise program to improve your strength, balance and coordination.
Visit an eye doctor regularly to have your vision checked.
Acquired Brain Injury
Approximately 795,000 people, each year, sustain an acquired brain injury (ABI), a non-traumatic injury caused by stroke or lack of oxygen to the brain. According to the Center for Disease Control (CDC), someone has a stroke every 40 seconds and someone dies of stroke every 4 minutes. Over 800,000 people die, each year, from heart disease and strokes making stroke a leading cause of death in the U.S.
Stroke is significant in the cause of disability often making it difficult for individuals to perform basic daily activities of living. In 2010, strokes cost the nation an estimated $53.9 billion in health care services, medications and lost productivity.
Although you may not be able to control some stroke risk factors such as heredity, age, gender and ethnicity, you can control medical conditions such as high blood pressure, high cholesterol, heart disease, diabetes, overweight or obesity, and transient ischemic attacks/TIAs (mini strokes). To avoid becoming a stroke victim: stop smoking, drink in moderation and begin exercising; all great choices in reducing your risk.
