TBI - 2

Sometimes a Traumatic Brain Injury (TBI) results in death. You may recall the story of Natasha Richardson. She was taking a beginner's ski lesson not far from Montreal, Canada, so the story goes, and fell. Reportedly, she was not wearing a helmet. Initially she thought she was fine and didn't need medical attention. Unfortunately, she developed a headache some time later and was taken to the hospital. She died at the age of 45. An autopsy report listed the cause of death as an epidural hematoma due to blunt impact to the head. What can you do to minimize the risk of a TBI? Avoid falling, for one. Many falls are preventable. Wear a helmet when engaged in any activity that might result in a head injury. That includes skiing, bicycle riding, skate boarding, and so on. Use a seat belt when driving or riding in vehicles. Stay alert, rested, sober, and aware when driving (e.g., never text and minimize cell-phone use as the brain cannot multitask effectively). You cannot prevent everything but you can prevent some things. And the brain you save may be your own. What about TBIs that do not result in death but that do result in injury? More on that tomorrow.