What is a Traumatic Brain Injury (TBI)?
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," i.e., a brief change in mental status or consciousness to "severe," i.e., an extended period of unconsciousness or amnesia after the injury. A TBI can result in short or long-term problems with independent function.According to the United States Center for Disease Control "TBIs contribute to a substantial number of deaths and cases of permanent disability annually. The Center for Disease Control estimates that at least 5.3 million Americans, about 2% of the U.S. population, currently have a long-term or lifelong need for help to perform activities of daily living as a result of a TBI.
The severity of a TBI may range from “mild,” i.e., a brief change in mental status or consciousness to “severe,” i.e., an extended period of unconsciousness or amnesia after the injury. Approximately 75% of TBIs that occur each year are concussions or other forms of mild TBI.
Recent data shows that, on average, approximately 1.4 million people sustain a TBI each year in the United States. Of those:
50,000 die;
235,000 are hospitalized; and
1.1 million are treated and released from an emergency department.
Among children ages 0 to 14 years, TBI results in an estimated 235,000 are hospitalized; and
1.1 million are treated and released from an emergency department.
2,685 deaths;
37,000 hospitalizations; and
435,000 emergency department visits.
The number of people with TBI who are not seen in an emergency department or who receive no care is unknown."37,000 hospitalizations; and
435,000 emergency department visits.
The Only Known Cure for Brain Injury is Prevention
There are many ways to reduce the chances of a traumatic brain injury (TBI), including:
1. Wearing a seat belt every time you drive or ride in a motor vehicle.
2. Buckling your child in the car using a child safety seat, booster seat, or seat belt according to the child's height, weight, and age.
3. Never driving while under the influence of alcohol or drugs.
4. Wearing a helmet and making sure your children wear helmets when:
2. Buckling your child in the car using a child safety seat, booster seat, or seat belt according to the child's height, weight, and age.
Children should start using a booster seat when they outgrow their child safety seats (usually when they weigh about 40 pounds). They should continue to ride in a booster seat until the lap/shoulder belts in the car fit properly, typically when they are 4’9” tall.
3. Never driving while under the influence of alcohol or drugs.
4. Wearing a helmet and making sure your children wear helmets when:
● Riding a bike, motorcycle, snowmobile, scooter, 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
● Skiing or snowboarding.
5. Making living areas safer for seniors, by: ● 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
● Skiing or snowboarding.
● Removing tripping hazards such as throw rugs and clutter in walkways
● Using nonslip mats in the bathtub and on shower floors
● Installing grab bars next to the toilet and in the tub or shower
● Installing handrails on both sides of stairways
● Improving lighting throughout the home
● Maintaining a regular physical activity program
6. Making living areas safer for children, by: ● Using nonslip mats in the bathtub and on shower floors
● Installing grab bars next to the toilet and in the tub or shower
● Installing handrails on both sides of stairways
● Improving lighting throughout the home
● Maintaining a regular physical activity program
● Installing window guards
● Using safety gates at the top and bottom of stairs
7. Making sure the surface on your child's playground is made of shock-absorbing material, such as hardwood mulch or sand.● Using safety gates at the top and bottom of stairs
Traumatic Brain Injury Links
On With Life has compiled these links to other traumatic brain injury related resources on the internet. If you would like to recommend another relevant site or report a non-functional link please contact us. Thank you.Video – Living with Brain Injury
From the Brain Injury Association of New York State:
Beyond the Invisible: Living with Brain Injury
“This 30-minute documentary (narrated by Lee Woodruff) focuses on three veterans who sustained a brain injury in combat during Operation Iraqi Freedom. The film is designed to educate the public, professionals, and advocates about what it means to live with a brain injury. Although the documentary portrays the challenges of brain injury in a military context, many of the struggles these veterans discuss are shared by all who experience a brain injury.
Special thanks to the veterans and their families who opened their hearts and homes to us. Talking publicly about a brain injury is not easy for anyone. By reaching out and sharing their experiences, these men and their families have demonstrated the importance of not keeping the topic of brain injury a secret.”
See the video online --- Beyond the Invisible: Living with Brain Injury
To download a WMV format version of the video, use this link:
Beyond the Invisible: Living with Brain Injury
(BeyondTheInvisible320x240.wmv --- approximately 85.5 MB)
DVD copies of Beyond the Invisible are available to the public free-of-charge. Please contact the Brain Injury Association of New York State for more information:
Judith Avner
javner@bianys.org
10 Colvin Avenue
Albany NY 12206-1242
Telephone: 518-459-7911
Fax: 518-482-5285
http://www.bianys.org/contact_us.html
Please note: The film contains explosion scenes. An edited version of the film is available by contacting the Brain Injury Association of NYS.
Brain Injury Association of America is the leading national organization serving and representing individuals, families and professionals who are touched by a life-altering, often devastating, traumatic brain injury (TBI).
Brain Injury Association of Iowa The mission of the Brain Injury Association of Iowa is to create a better future through brain injury prevention, education, advocacy and support.
Central Iowa Center for Independent Living helps those whose lives are challenged with the opportunities to succeed in life with disability and assistive issues.
Iowa Association of Community Providers promotes quality services to children and adults with disabilities (MH/MR/BI/DD) in Iowa’s communities by strengthening association members.
Traumatic Brain Injury Resource Directory contains hundreds of resources relevant to individuals with brain injury, their families, and friends.
Traumatic Brain Injury Survival Guide an online book to better prepare the head injured person and family for the long road ahead.
Brain Train software and articles for brain injury.
Brain.com features brain games and tools for everyone.
Stroke Family sells speech practice tools that utilize specific techniques based on brain research that shows that the other side of the brain can talk and that the brain can be "reprogrammed" to use this untapped speech area.
National Rehabilitation Information Center lists an abundance of disability and rehabilitation-oriented information organized in a variety of formats designed to make it easy for users to find and use.
