|
|
The Children's Institute Safety Tip of the Month
|
| |
Safety Tip of the month:
BRAIN INJURY AWARENESS:
UNDERSTANDING CONCUSSIONS
Valuable information from Jane Keim, Vice President of Clinical Operations at The
Children’s Institute and President of the Brain Injury Association of Pennsylvania
Many
people assume that traumatic brain injuries (TBIs) are a rare occurrence that
is unlikely to affect them. Concussions,
however, are one of the most prominent TBIs that can be missed when diagnosing
head injuries. Concussions are caused by
a blow or jolt to the head, but do not necessarily involve loss of
consciousness or a direct impact to the head.
As
summer rolls around and children resume their outdoor activities, it is
important to keep these tips in mind to properly diagnose and treat
concussions:
-
Signs that a child may have been concussed include the following
symptoms: nausea, dizziness or loss of balance, blurred or double vision,
sensitivity to light and/or noise, headaches, feeling tired, sluggish, or
groggy, general confusion, and trouble concentrating or remembering.
-
If any of these symptoms are present in your child, have him or
her see a healthcare professional immediately, as concussions can affect
performance in everyday activities.
-
In terms of treatment, the best course of action is to have the
child take his or her time and be patient during recovery. Rest is vital, and a child who has suffered a
concussion should not return to any contact sport/activity until cleared by a
healthcare professional.
-
Multiple concussions can have long-lasting effects. If a child has sustained a concussion, any
bumps on the head in the future should never be ignored. Make sure you pay attention to the child’s
physical and mental processes, noting any changes or problems that the child
may develop.
More
information on concussions and brain injury awareness can be found at http://www.biausa.org/biam.htm.
To
learn more about The Children’s Institute, please visit www.amazingkids.org.
Download the
BRAIN INJURY AWARENESS PDF here
|
Jane Keim, Vice President of Clinical Operations at The Children's Institute and President of the Brain Injury Association of Pennsylvania
|
| |
|
|
|
On Air Now
Weather
|