It seems like you can’t turn on the television these days without seeing a story about traumatic brain injuries. It’s become a serious concern across the U.S. among not just athletes, but the public in general.
According to the Centers for Disease Control (CDC), 2.5 million people suffered traumatic brain injury across the country in 2010. Recovery from these injuries can be long, painful and expensive. Learn about traumatic head injuries, how to prevent them, what it takes to recover and how an Odessa traumatic brain injury attorney can help.
About Traumatic Brain Injury
The CDC defines a TBI as an injury that results from a blow, bump or jolt to the head, or an injury that penetrates the head to the point where it disrupts brain function. Not every head injury results in traumatic brain injury, and when it does, the severity ranges from mild to severe.
Mild head injuries can result in a temporary alteration in mental status — memory problems, mood swings, brief unconsciousness, or the like, which clear up in a few days to a few weeks. Severe TBI involves symptoms that are very long term or even indefinite. Comas, long-term amnesia, persistent mental health problems and the like can result in such cases.
Preventing TBI
There are a number of things you can do to prevent traumatic brain injury at various stages of life and activity. These precautions range from driving cars to care in the home, to engaging in sports events. A few minutes of precaution can prevent a lifetime of injury.
Car Safety
Make sure that you buckle up when riding in the car and if you have children, make sure they are safely secured in a properly-installed child safety or booster seat. Never drive a car while under the influence of alcohol or drugs. This may seem obvious but it also includes many forms of prescription medication. Check with your doctor about whether it’s safe to drive if you’re on meds of any sort.
Sports and Play
Many brain injuries result from recreational activities like sports and play. When riding a bicycle or motorcycle, when skating or playing any sort of contact sport from hockey to football, from skateboarding to snowboarding, make sure you wear a padded helmet. Even if you’re playing softball at the park, wear a batting helmet to avoid accidents at the plate.
Keeping Home Safe
Keeping your home safe for children and seniors is also important. Use non-slip bathtub mats. Install grab-bars near your toilet and in the bathtub. Handrails on stairways are vital, as is adequate lighting in your home. For children, safety gates can keep kids from falling down stairs. In outdoor play areas, use hardwood mulch or sand to absorb the shock from falling.
Odessa Personal Injury Attorney
Of course, you can be as safe as possible and still get injured based on the fault of another. If this happens to you or a loved one, you may be entitled to compensation. Help is just a call away. Seek help from the Odessa personal injury attorneys at Braker White for a free case evaluation today.
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