How Can I Help My Family Avoid Brain Injury?
Brain injuries are often caused by traumatic blows to the head. While most minor bumps won’t cause brain injuries, there are a few things you can do to lower the risk for yourself and your family:
Wear a seat belt every time you drive or ride in a motor vehicle.
Always buckle your child into a child safety seat, booster seat, or seat belt (according to the child's height, weight, and age) in the car.
Never drive while under the influence of alcohol or drugs.
Wear a helmet and make sure your children wear helmets when:
Riding a bike, motorcycle, snowmobile, or all-terrain vehicle;
Playing a contact sport, such as football, ice hockey, or boxing;
Using in-line skates or riding a skateboard;
Batting and running bases in baseball or softball;
Riding a horse; or
Skiing or snowboarding.
Avoid falls in the home by:
Using a step stool with a grab bar to reach objects on high shelves;
Installing handrails on stairways;
Installing window guards to keep young children from falling out of open windows;
Using safety gates at the top and bottom of stairs when young children are around;
Removing tripping hazards such as small area rugs and loose electrical cords;
Using non-slip mats in the bathtub and on shower floors;
Putting grab bars next to the toilet and in the tub or shower;
Maintaining a regular exercise program to improve strength, balance, and coordination; and
Seeing an eye doctor regularly for a vision check to help lower the risk of falling.
Make sure the surface on your child's playground is made of shock-absorbing material, such as hardwood, mulch, and sand.
Keep firearms stored unloaded in a locked cabinet or safe. Store bullets in a separate, secured location.
©2015 BiC Bran Injury Center