According to the CDC, “there are around 2.8 million TBI (Traumatic Brain Injury)-related emergency department visits, hospitalizations, and deaths each year in the United States. TBI contributed to the deaths of almost 50,000 people. TBI was a diagnosis in more than 282,000 hospitalizations and 2.5 million ER visits. These consisted of TBI alone or TBI in combination with other injuries.”
TBI and concussions are on the rise from previous years based on information from the CDC. It is important to understand that there are things you can do to help prevent serious injuries and TBI.
1- Focus on Your Surroundings
Falls are the leading cause of TBI related injuries. If you are not focusing on your surroundings, you may slip or fall. If you are on a ladder, always make sure it is balanced on the ground. Look for warning signs where there may be water on the floor which can cause a slip. General awareness of your surroundings can help you make safe decisions.
2- Make Safe Choices
If an activity or sport will put you at a higher risk for a head injury, then reconsider before participating. Remember that wearing a helmet is good practice and helpful to protect the structure of the skull, although it cannot completely prevent a head injury. It can reduce the risks of structural damage, but there is no guarantee that there will not be functional problems or damage to the brain after an impact or sudden acceleration.
3- Always Wear a Seatbelt
Wearing a seatbelt helps secure your body in case of an accident. While wearing a seatbelt by itself cannot stop a head injury, it can help reduce the severity of a head injury, and it can help prevent other injuries to the body.
4- Don’t Text and Drive
Texting and driving is a leading cause of car accidents. If you text and drive, you are as dangerous as someone who is twice the legal limit of drinking alcohol. Car accidents in the state of Utah this year alone have killed 150 people. 25% of car accidents in Utah involve distracted driving. Distracted driving doesn’t only influence your own life—you are also putting others at risk for injury and death. By reducing the risk of a car accident, you are reducing the risk of getting a head injury and giving others head injuries.
5- REALLY Don’t Forget to Focus on Your Surroundings
Yes, we already mentioned to focus on your surroundings but it is so important we decided to mention it twice. Life moves at a fast pace. Make sure to look both ways before you cross a street. Follow traffic laws when you are on a bicycle. Being attentive and alert can also help you understand what is happening around you, helping you to reduce the risk of being injured.
Accidents do happen, and life happens, but as you follow these five tips, it can help minimize the risk of severe injury. Even a mild injury can have a serious impact on how the brain works, so be careful, and don’t forget to be safe and make safe choices.
Adults 65+ years have the highest rates of traumatic brain injury (TBI) deaths, according to the New York Department of Health.
Regardless of your age now, we all get older, even if we don’t want to....
