According to a new report, emergency rooms across the US have experienced a spike in the number of patients treated due to traumatic brain injury (TBI). While other studies have indicated that ER visits for sports-related TBI in youth have sharply increased, this new study shows that the number of patients treated across all age groups has also gone up.
Increasing TBI Awareness is Likely Reason Behind Overall Increase
In a study published earlier this year by the University of Pittsburgh School of Medicine, US hospitals recorded close to a 30 percent increase in the rate of traumatic brain injury emergency room visits since 2006. The UP research team suggests that the increase is likely due to an increased awareness of TBI’s seriousness and symptoms, not an actual increase in the rate of head injuries. Other studies similar to this one have also cited a general increase in public awareness as a likely reason that more injuries are being reported and treated.
Over the last ten years, agencies such as the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) and National Institutes of Health (NIH) have employed measures to increase awareness about the dangers of traumatic brain injuries. At the same time, these organizations have been working to reduce accidents and conditions that lead to TBI. The CDC has recognized traumatic brain injury as a serious public health concern.
Helping to Prevent Traumatic Brain Injury in the Young and Old
Prevention is the only “cure” for traumatic brain injury. Most occurrences of TBI can be reduced through basic safety precautions. The research indicates that a large portion of the increase in emergency room visits consist of the elderly and young children.
Falls involving seniors are a major cause of traumatic brain injuries among this population. Taking simple measures to help seniors avoid falls around the home are important.
- Install handrails in bathrooms
- Place a nonslip mat in the bathtub or shower
- Avoid or remove area rugs
- Install handrails on both sides of staircases
- Keep stairs and walkways free of clutter
- Exercises designed to improve balance and coordination, such as Tai Chi, is particularly helpful among older adults.
Taking extra precautions to supervise and safeguard children are among the most effective ways to avoid traumatic brain injuries for this at risk group.
- Make living areas safer for small children by installing window guards to keep toddlers from falling out of open windows and use safety gates at the top and bottom of stairs to secure babies and toddlers.
- Supervise children while swimming. Only dive into in-ground pools designed specifically for diving that have a designated diving area with a depth of 9 feet or deeper.
- Helmets should also be worn by children and adults while skating, skateboarding, skiing, and playing contact sports
- Drivers and passengers in motor vehicles are advised to wear seat belts at all times. Child safety seats should be used as appropriate.
References: UPI Science News, CDC, Mayo Clinic
