Although traumatic brain injuries are a serious concern for people of all ages, it is particularly important for parents and those who take care of kids to understand the risks that children face. According to the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention, children who were four years old and younger had the highest rate of emergency department visits for a non-fatal traumatic brain injury between 2006 and 2010. In San Bernardino, and communities across California, children continue to suffer TBIs at an shocking rate for many different reasons.
When it comes to fatal traumatic brain injuries, the CDC reports that children who were four and younger died from assault more than any other cause during 2006 to 2010. Throughout the same period, traffic accidents were the leading cause of fatal TBIs for those between the ages of five and 24, while most children who were 14 and younger suffered a TBI which required hospitalization as a result of falling.
New York’s Department of Health has provided a number of guidelines that can help prevent traumatic brain injuries among those who are aged 19 and younger. Parents should identify any potentially dangerous activities their children engage in that may increase the risk of a brain injury, from riding a bike and participating in team sports to playground activities and even crossing the road. Furthermore, parents should recognize the various TBI symptoms (such as vomiting, persistent headaches, memory problems and difficulty balancing, among others) and consult their child’s physician at once if they believe their child may have suffered a head injury.
