March Safety Article: Brain Injury Awareness Month

Southbury Ambulance Association has developed some tips to help the community stay safe during Brain Injury Awareness Month.

Brain Injury Awareness Month is recognized in March to help bring awareness to traumatic brain injury prevention methods and to raise awareness for people living with traumatic brain injuries. According to Vanderbilt University, these injuries affect millions of Americans every year, with half of all brain injury related hospitalizations being caused by falls.

Traumatic brain injuries can affect the way people think, act, and feel and impair language processing, speaking, logical reasoning, coordination, and more. Brain injuries are considered chronic conditions because they can have lifelong effects. According to Harborview Injury Prevention and Research Center, motor vehicle accidents, sports injuries, and head trauma as a child are all leading causes for traumatic brain injuries.

Some ways to help minimize this risk are to make sure you wear a seatbelt every time you are in a car and never drive under the influence of drugs or alcohol as these can impair your attention. If you or your child play any sports, it’s important to wear the appropriate headgear to lower the risk of concussions or other brain injuries due to contact sports or falls. Some examples would be wearing helmets when riding bikes, playing contact sports such as football, skateboarding, and skiing.

To prevent falls in older adults, staying active, wearing shoes that are easy to walk in, and removing any tripping hazards in the home can be helpful. According to Mayo Clinic, adding more light to your living space or installing assistive devices such as handrails, non-slip treads, and grab bars, can make falls less likely.

We hope these tips help raise awareness about traumatic brain injuries and help keep you safe against them!

By: Nadina Bhadrasain 68 Georges Hill Rd., Southbury, CT 06488