By Alicia M. Brown, ASB, LPN | Marketing Director, Everlasting Community Services
This is part two of a four-part Brain Injury Awareness Month series highlighting types of brain injury, injury prevention, resources and quality of life after injury. Part 3: March 17
Benjamin Franklin said, “An ounce of prevention is worth a pound of cure.”
The most effective way to combat brain injury is to emphasize prevention. With the highest incidence of brain injury occurring in three age groups — newborns to 4-year-olds, 15- to 24-year-olds and people 65 an older — it’s evident that increased awareness and focus on prevention truly is worth our attention.
Injury prevention in newborns and toddlers
Newborns can sustain injuries as a result of falls, suffocation and shaking.
As harmless as it may seem to sleep with your newborn, the risks can be great. Falls from beds, soft mattresses, fluffy decorative pillows and comforters, as well as sleep-deprived parents can lead to catastrophic accidents.
Anoxia is the absence of oxygen reaching the brain, resulting in acquired brain injury or death. Cribs or bassinets designed specifically for newborns have firmer mattresses which help to avoid suffocation. Adult beds often have gaps between the mattress and headboard that can pose a danger for newborns and toddlers. Proper beds, bedding and placement is important when putting your infant down to sleep.
Shaken Baby Syndrome can occur from birth to age 4. Frustrations can escalate when new parents haven’t slept and when baby seems to never stop crying. Remember the 10-10-10 rule: Place the baby in a safe spot and stay 10 feet away until you feel calm. Focus on something else for 10 minutes after safely leaving the baby in their crib. Talk with some who will listen — often 10 minutes of speaking with someone who will listen will help to ease your stress.
Identify people you can lean on when you need a break. Also, speak with anyone who will be caring for your child, so they understand they need to call you if they become frustrated.
Brain injuries also can occur as the result of a near-drowning. Never leave your baby or toddler unaccompanied around water. This includes bathtubs, pools, spas, cleaning buckets and ice coolers. Another danger in Arizona is the heat. Even an 80-degree day can have dangerous consequences for a baby or toddler exposed to prolonged temperatures in a hot car.
Many hidden dangers exist for curious toddlers, so be sure to secure heavy furniture to the wall so little climbers don’t become injured. Secure cords that dangle from blinds and lock up chemicals — ingesting toxic medications and cleaning products can cause respiratory arrest, leading to anoxic brain injury.
Injury prevention in young adults
What child doesn’t spend at least one summer covered in Band-Aids or in a nifty cast? Kids should be kids — they should have fun, but we should keep them as safe as possible while they’re having a good time. Here are some tips:
Protective gear is essential. Helmets should be worn when riding a bike or motorcycle, while skateboarding, snowmobiling, skiing and other activities. Helmets are also important in contact sports like football. When at the bat in baseball and softball, a batting helmet should be worn. Adults also should watch kids during repeated headers or after a collision on the soccer field.
Know the signs of concussion and seek immediate care when someone sustains an injury.
Playground equipment should be installed over shock-absorbing surfaces like sand or mulch and play should be supervised. Roughly 100,000 trampoline-related injuries are reported each year, with 300,000 reported in 2018.
Outline the rules before heading to the pool or lake. Make sure your child knows how to swim, teach them water safety and learn CPR.
Always monitor bumps to the head closely. If you’re child has received a bump to the head, watch for changes in mood, complaints of dizziness, headache, nausea or vision changes, confusion, vomiting or other irregularities.
Injury prevention in seniors
As we age, we aren’t as quick on our feet as we once were. Anyone who’s gotten down on the floor quickly realizes we should have first thought about how we were going to get up. Tips for staying safe:
Keep walkways clear. Eliminate throw-rugs and clutter and keep areas well lit, including night lights in hallways and bathrooms. If you have small pets who like to follow you everywhere, consider placing a bell on their collar so you know they are underfoot. Even if you don’t see them, hopefully you’ll hear them.
Maintain your balance. Medication, different illnesses or uncontrolled blood pressure can cause balance issues, dizziness or stroke. Speak with your doctor about dizziness and use some helpful strategies to avoid falls. Sit up in bed a minute or two prior to standing and don’t stand up too quickly — holding on to furniture until you feel stable. Using a cane or walker can make it easier to get around. Your primary care doctor can refer you to a physical therapist who can work to improve your strength, stamina and balance — helping to decrease your fall risk.
Driving at night may be difficult for some. Our eyesight changes and our reaction times slow as we age. Some medications carry warnings against driving. If you have concerns about driving safely, speak with your loved ones or your doctor. Many cities in the Phoenix area have resources, free ride programs, shuttles or volunteers that take seniors to appointments, to church or to run errands.
Automobile accidents
Car accidents, regardless of age, can result in traumatic brain injury to yourself or a loved one. Avoid cell phone use and other distractions while driving. Always wear a seatbelt and have children in age and weight-appropriate car seats. Never drive while under the influence of drugs or alcohol. Identify resources like Uber or Lyft before drinking or designate a driver.
Visit the National Highway Traffic Safety Administration website at nhtsa.gov for more information, and to be sure car seats are installed properly.
Regardless of age, preventing accidents is key to preventing injury. Share these prevention strategies with loved ones to help decrease the risk.
