Brain Injury Awareness

It is important to those who have sustained brain injuries that the public be made aware of the difficulties and challenges they encounter following such an injury. Few people are aware of the consequences of a brain injury until it happens to them or to a family member. In the United States, March is Brain Injury Awareness Month; in Canada it is June.

There has been much mentioned lately about the dangers of concussions and the risks involved when young people play sports. Concussions are now considered to be a mild brain injury and while initially may not appear to be serious, can result in later consequences if not looked after at the time of the injury. It is important therefore that coaches, teachers and parents who are involved in youth sports be made aware of concussion prevention, recognition and response.

Brain injury awareness campaigns attempt to educate the public in the prevention of traumatic brain injuries. In spite of the fact that many of these injuries can be prevented, the lack of awareness of the consequences of this type of injury means that prevention mesures are often not taken. Prevention can be accomplished in many ways, i.e.: by living a healthy lifestyle, and by wearing helmets when riding a motorcycle, biking, skiing, snowboarding, horseback riding, skating and skateboarding. Also, seatbelts should be worn at all times when in a motor vehicle; driving should be done defensively; and alcohol and illegal drugs should be avoided while in control of a motor vehicle.

Other reminders to help people become aware of, and prevent needless brain injuries are: to keep guns in locked cabinets; keep guns unloaded, and to store ammunition separately from guns.

Those most vulnerable for sustaining brain injuries are children under five, seniors seventy or over and those between fifteen and forty. Men are twice as likely as women to sustain traumatic brain injuries. The most likely causes of brain injury are vehicular accidents, falls and accidents. However, others at risk are those who are in contact or extreme sports, construction workers and, in more recent years, those who have served in the military.

Brain injury awareness information also attempts to reinforce the importance of support programs to assist survivors in working towards successful rehabilitation. And for this reason, a rehabilitation team is necessary for best results. This includes physiotherapists, occupational therapists and support groups.

Because social, physical and economic challenges are created as a result of brain damage and resulting cognitive problems, caregiver support is also necessary. Relationships are difficult to maintain when there are behavior and cognitive difficulties. This is especially true when friends no longer visit the survivor thereby relieving the caregiver.

Despite the staggering statistics of brain injuries suffered each year in both Canada and the United States, there is very little public awareness of the problem. Let 2010 be your year to learn more about this often preventable and devastating tragedy.