Preventing Brain Injury
Created For You By:
Brandon Cook
Zel Wilson
Emma Fillebrown
At No Limits Eastern Shore
www.nolimiteasternshore.com
Please feel free to download, print, or share this
PowerPoint with credit given to No Limits Eastern
Shore.
What is a Brain Injury?
• An acquired brain injury (ABI) includes all
types of traumatic brain injuries and also
brain injuries caused after birth by cerebral
vascular accidents (commonly known as
stroke), and loss of oxygen to the brain
(hypoxic brain injury).
• A traumatic brain injury (TBI) is an injury to
the brain caused by an external force after
birth. Common causes of a traumatic brain
injury include gunshot wounds, motor
vehicle crashes, assaults, or falling and
striking your head.
***Injuries to the brain that are present at
birth or progressive in nature, such as
Alzheimers disease or Parkinson's are not
considered a traumatic or acquired brain
injury.***
Most Common Causes of Brain Injury
in Adolescents
1.
2.
3.
4.
Motor Vehicle Related
Sports and Recreational Activities
Violence
Drug & Alcohol Abuse
Motor Vehicle Related Accidents are
the Most Common Cause of Brain
Injury/Death in Teens
Why?
•
Inexperienced Driving – new drivers start off with very little knowledge or
understanding of the complexities of driving an automobile. Like any other
skill it takes time to master.
– Not following or understanding street signs, not knowing to correct driving
patterns based on road conditions, speeding, not wearing a seat belt, etc.
•
Impaired/Distracted Driving
– Too many people in the car, radio, cell phone use, not having both hands
on the wheel in general, etc.
– Driving under the influence of drugs or alcohol may severely effect
decision making skills, eyesight, reaction times, and memory.
Scary Statistics
• 55% of teens say they wish their parents spent more time
teaching them to drive, especially in dangerous conditions.
• 32% of teen drivers (ages 15 – 20) that were killed in motor
vehicle crashes in 2011 had been drinking some amount of
alcohol.
• 50% of teen deaths from motor vehicle crashes occurred
between 3 P.M. and midnight in 2010.
• More than 74,000 young people die or are injured each year
from not wearing seatbelts.
• 2/3 of teen passenger deaths took place in vehicles driven by
other teens.
• 53% of traffic violations for teens (ages 16 – 19) were due to
speeding.
• Teens behind the wheel and their peers as passengers
account for 1 in every 5 deaths in the teen population ages
15 – 19 year olds.
• 2,823 teens (ages 13 – 19) died in motor vehicle crashes in
2012.
Ten Tips for Safe Driving
1. Always wear your seat belt!
2. Never use your cell phone while driving!
3. Keep distractions inside the vehicle to a
minimum!
4. Keep your hands on the wheel and eyes
on the road!
5. Follow traffic signs and lights
accordingly! No Speeding!
6. Have an idea of where you’re going
before you leave!
7. Never drive under the influence of drugs
or alcohol!
8. Don’t be the distraction as a passenger!
9. Be more cautious when driving in bad
weather and/or at night!
10. Middle back seat – the last place you
want to be!
Concussions (They’re kind of a big
deal…)
• A concussion is a mild form of brain injury and is the
most common head injury that occurs while playing a
sport.
• Signs/Symptoms:
1.
2.
3.
4.
Thinking/Remembering – difficulty thinking clearly,
feeling slowed down, difficulty concentrating,
difficulty remembering new information.
Physical – headache, fuzzy/blurry vision, nausea or
vomiting (unexpectedly), dizziness, sensitivity to
noise or light, balance problems, feeling, having no
energy.
Emotional/Mood – irritability, sadness, more
emotional, nervousness or anxiety.
Sleep – sleeping more than usual, sleeping less than
usual, trouble falling asleep.
***Concussions do not always appear with the exact
symptoms as listed on the previous slide. If you have
been hit in the head or fall on your head/neck during
a sport or recreational activity see a doctor!***
• If you are diagnosed with a concussion you must REST!
Concussions are the number one cause of brain injury
with sports-related injuries!
• You must speak with a doctor before returning to your
normal physical AND mental activities after a
concussion!
Preventing Sports-Related Injuries
• Use head gear/helmets that
have been approved by trusted
testing facilities such as Snell,
American National Standards
Institute, or American Society
for Testing and Materials.
Approved helmets will be
marked with a sticker!
• Make sure gear/helmets fit
appropriately!
• Never dive in shallow water or
murky water!
• Never slide or dive head first!
Preventing Injury Due To Violence
10 Steps to Avoid Violence/Injury
1. Recognize situations or events that are likely to escalate
into violence.
2. Stop whatever you are doing and count to 10 backward.
This will help you think about your feelings before they
get out of control.
3. If you can't control your anger, get away. Take a time out.
4. Think about the options and consequences of your
actions. For example, hitting someone could result in
suspension from school or injury.
5. If necessary, get help from a third party to solve
differences.
6. Cool off. Make sure you are calm and then talk to the
person.
7. Listen carefully to the other person's opinion.
8. Be assertive, not aggressive. Stand up for your ideals.
Begin every sentence with "I" For example: "I feel this
way..." or "I don't like it when..."
9. Be willing to admit and be responsible for something you
may have done wrong.
10. Respond with your HEAD – not your fists, threats, or
weapons.
© 2001, American Medical Association
Preventing Drug and Alcohol Use
Ten Tips for Prevention
1. Don’t Be Afraid to Say No
2. Connect With Your Friends and Avoid Negative Peer Pressure
3. Make Connections With Your Parents or Other Adults
4. Enjoy Life and Do What You Love - Don’t Add Alcohol and Drugs
5. Follow the Family Rules About Alcohol and Drugs
6. Get Educated About Alcohol and Drugs
7. Be a Role Model and Set a Positive Example
8. Plan Ahead
9. Speak Out/Speak Up/Take Control
If you or someone you know is in trouble with alcohol or drugs get
help. Don’t wait. You are not alone.
Additional Tips for Staying Safe
•
•
•
•
•
Travel in pairs!
Know your surroundings!
If you have a cell phone keep it charged and store important emergency
numbers/information!
Understand the importance of mental health and the resources available to you
for help with depression and anxiety!
If you are in a situation where you feel that you are being/have been abused or
assaulted you should seek help immediately!
References
• http://www.biapa.org/site/c.iuLZJbMMKrH/b.1841217/k.39
EF/Tips_for_preventing_brain_injury.htm
• http://www.cdc.gov/concussion/pdf/Fact_Sheet_ConcussT
BI-a.pdf
• http://www.cdc.gov/traumaticbraininjury/pdf/BlueBook_fa
ctsheet-a.pdf
• http://www.brainline.org/content/2011/04/head-injuryprevention-tips.html
• http://www.aans.org/patient%20information/~/media/File
s/Patient%20Information/Patient%20Safety%20Tips/head_i
njury_prevention.ashx
• http://www.cdc.gov/TraumaticBrainInjury/factsheets_repo
rts.html
• https://ncadd.org/for-youth/prevention-tips