March Is Brain Injury Awareness Month

March is National Brain Injury Awareness Month, and the Brain Injury Association of Virginia (BIAV) is partnering with the Virginia Department of Health, the Virginia Department of Rehabilitative Services, 2-1-1, and Senior Navigator to call attention to the #1 cause of brain injury in the United States – falls.

In 2006, the last year for which complete statistics are available, falls accounted for over 40% of all hospitalizations in Virginia and were the leading cause of injury hospitalization in children under 14 and adults over 35.

BIAV is one of 47 Brain Injury Association of America affiliates across the country working with the Centers for Disease Control on a first-ever coordinated national public awareness campaign focused on the issue of fall prevention.

Help Seniors Live Better, Longer: Prevent Brain Injury is targeted to adult children of people 75 and older who are often guardians of their parent’s health. Research with these “baby boomers” reveals that they:

• Are concerned about their parents falling
• Believe falls are inevitable
• Don’t think about TBI as a fall-related injury
• Are happy to learn about preventive measures they can take
• Share health information with parents

This fall prevention campaign has four key messages that emphasize:

• Home Safety
• Regular Exercise
• Medication Review
• Vision Screening

Dr. Gregory O’Shanick, the National Medical Director of the Brain Injury Association of America and a physician practicing in Midlothian VA who specializes in treating persons with brain injury stated, "The aging of America combined with improved automobile safety standards and tougher drunk driving laws now finds falls as the Number One cause of traumatic brain injury in the US. Educating the public on fall prevention is critical, but we also must learn how to fall safely, much as an acrobat learns to tumble without injury!"

The CDC has developed flyers, brochures and pamphlets that provide information on the topic. If you are interested in obtaining a copy of these materials, please visit the CDC website or contact BIAV at (804) 355-5748.

Copyright 2007 - Brain Injury Association of Virginia, Inc.