By BobbieJo Paul, Family Nurse Practitioner, ATI Active Care, Waukesha, WI
A brain injury can happen to anyone. Playing sports, motor vehicle accident, violence, or even just falling down can result in a devastating brain injury. March is Brain Injury Awareness Month, and the theme this year “Anytime, Anywhere – Brain Injuries Do Not Discriminate” really speaks to the fact that everyone should think about being safe and preventing injury to our head.
A traumatic brain injury (TBI) is a blow, jolt or bump to the head or a penetrating head injury that disrupts the normal function of the brain. According to the Brain Injury Association, 2.4 million people, including 475,000 children, sustain a traumatic brain injury in the U.S. each year. 5.3 million Individuals live with life-long disability as a result of TBI.
Winter weather is still here, and while we have dealt with ice for several months, we cannot forget about safety. 35% of TBIs are caused by slips and falls, and car crashes account for 17% of TBIs. Other causes of brain injuries include workplace accidents, assaults, and sports injuries.
What do you do if you or someone you know has a head injury?
Check for symptoms:
- Visible injury with bruising or bleeding
- Loss of consciousness
- Headache
- Forgetfulness, difficulty concentrating, confused, slow to respond
- Feeling faint, dizzy, off balance
- Nausea or vomiting
- Change in vision; double vision, blurred vision, sensitive to light
- Feeling unusually tired or difficultly sleeping
If you or someone you know has symptoms contact your health care provider or go to the emergency room for evaluation. Don’t let a head injury cause long term symptoms.
Prevention is key:
- Use proper safety equipment; safety belts and helmets.
- Watch for risk for falls; ice, loose rugs, lack of non-slip mats in shower/bath, clutter on floors/stairs.
- Wear proper shoes.
- Avoid excess use of alcohol.
An injury that happens in an instant can bring a lifetime of physical, cognitive, and behavioral challenges. Early, equal, and adequate access to care will greatly increase overall quality of life.
Please visit http://www.biausa.org/brain-injury-awareness-month.htm for more information.