Health Observances
March is Brain Injury Awarness Month.
Traumatic Brain Injury is not new. It’s been around since the first person banged his head against something that would not give. It has just taken a while for us to become aware of the impact.
Football players.
Boxers/wrestlers.
Cyclist.
Hikers/mountain climbers.
Skiers/snowboarders/bobsleders.
Automobile accidents.
Soldiers. Airman. Sailors. Marines. Coasties. ALL are suseptable. ALL must be AWARE.
Name an event/activity that could have potential for banging your head, and there is potential for Brain Injury.
Definition:
A traumatic brain injury (TBI) is defined as a blow or jolt to the head or a penetrating head injury that disrupts the function of the brain. Not all blows or jolts to the head result in a TBI. The severity of such an injury may range from “mild” (a brief change in mental status or consciousness) to “severe” (an extended period of unconsciousness or amnesia after the injury). A TBI can result in short or long-term problems with independent function.
How Many People have TBI?
Of the 1.4 million who sustain a TBI each year in the United States,
- 50,000 die
- 235,000 are hospitalized
- 1.1 million are treated and released from an emergency room.
What Causes TBI?
The leading causes of TBI are falls, motor vehicle-traffic crashes, being struck by an object, and assault. Blasts are a leading cause of TBI for active duty military personnel in war zones.
(SOURCE: Right At Home)
According to the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) falls are the leading cause for Traumatic Brain Injury (TBI) and that people aged 75 and older have the greatest rate of hospitalization and death due to TBI.
Every 23 seconds someone suffers a traumatic brain injury according to the Brain Injury Association of America. TBI has been referred to as the signature injury for troops in the current conflicts. (SOURCE: Wilford Hall Medical Center News)
Additional Links:
Brain Injury Association of America
March is Brain Injury Awareness Month (US Army Homepage)
Military.com — Traumatic Brain Injury Overview
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