March is Brain Injury Awareness Month. It is a time to remember those who have lost their lives to brain injury (BI) and a month to offer encouragement and congratulations to those who continue to live their lives with its repercussions. It is also an ideal time to educate ourselves and others in an effort to prevent as many traumatic brain injuries in our country as we can by providing resources, expertise, and stories from individuals living with BI and their loved ones who support them. Each week we will post new content both here and on other’s sites during the month of March.
If you are interested in learning more about how you can share your story please contact us at: BIAwarnessMonth@gmail.com. See more information on our “share your stories campaign” below. The Centers for Disease Control and Prevention report that approximately 1.7 million men and women sustain a traumatic brain injury (TBI) every year in the United States alone. Primary causes of non-fatal TBI include automobile accidents, work-related injuries and falls down stairs or on pavement. The majority of brain injuries are classified as major concussions and may lead to more severe complications or even death if not treated quickly. In fact, 30 percent of deaths related to injury in our country are the direct result of a traumatic brain injury and/or complications that arise after the initial concussion.
Helpful Resources
There are a variety of ways to ensure that you and those around you are informed regarding brain injury and how to prevent it. Employers can read detailed pamphlets and print out free posters filled with valuable information to post in the workplace, particularly in environments where head injuries are more likely to occur. Parents should talk to your kids about brain injury and how it may affect other children they know.
The more the people of our country know and understand about this issue, the better. For athletic coaches, understanding how to manage injuries, including concussion training, is vital to ensuring that you are protecting your athletes. It is also important to ensure that you and your assistant coaches are properly trained and constantly ensuring that all safety equipment is being used in accordance with the manufacturer’s instructions. Knowing how to prevent this type of injury itself is vital, as is understanding the importance of respect and compassion when interacting with those who have suffered BI at any point in their lives.
Share Your Stories Campaign
To further commemorate Brain Injury Awareness, we will be featuring a number of guest bloggers on our site throughout the month of March. Featured writers will include health and medical professionals with experience in this field, people who have sustained a brain injury and individuals who have a loved one with a Brain injury. If you are interested in being a part of the campaign, you can find us on Twitter @TBIAwarenessCam or on Facebook at TBIShareYourStory.
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