Bicyclists: Protect Your Brain – Wear A Helmet.
Bicycling season is here! Does everyone have their helmet? EVERYONE (adults included) needs a helmet, not just children.
Perhaps a surprising statistic, research has shown that adults 30 years and older need helmets the the most. According to Dr. Angela F. Gardner, President of the American College of Emergency Physicians, “As you age, your brain shrinks, but your skull does not. That extra space means that the brain can bounce around inside the skull and may be more easily damaged from a blow.”
Research regarding the safety benefits of wearing a helmet suggests that people who wear helmets reduce their risk of brain injury up to 88 percent and their risk of facial injury by approximately 65 percent. Riders who not wearing a helmet do not typically fair well when involved an accident. According to the Insurance Institute for Highway Safety, in 2008 more than 90 percent of the 714 bicyclists killed were not wearing helmets.
The brain injury attorneys at Roswold Law Group would like to see people protect themselves from injury by wearing a helmet. Have fun, But be safe!
Child Head Injuries: When Is It Serious Enough To Rush To The ER?
Young children fall off beds, changing tables, and down stairs. Older children hit their heads on the grass fields or concrete streets when they fall off bikes and roller skates. Those are just a few examples of how a child could fall and hit their head.
While some blows to the head due to accidental falls are minor, others are severe and require medical treatment immediately. The trick is to knowing how to spot the latter of these two scenarios. Parents often ask, “When is it necessary to bring my child to the emergency room after a head injury?” or “How do I know what is a serious vs a minor injury?”
Pediatric physicians suggest that the first thing for parents or caretakers to do in the event of a fall is to find out what happened — get the child’s input. Typically, if there is no profuse bleeding, loss of consciousness or noticeable changes in behavior, the injury is most likely minor and doesn’t require medical attention. Other signs of serious head trauma might include:nausea, vomiting, dizziness, headache, seizures, lethargy, irritability, swelling, bruising, and memory loss. Symptoms such as these can be delayed for up to 36 hours, so it is important to stay alert to the child’s mood, behavior, and demeanor for the two days following the accident.
The Kansas City brain injury attorneys at Roswold Law Group know how serious head injuries can be and how vital time is when it comes to getting children to the hospital after such an incident. Just remember, look at your child for noticeable signs of injury and then remain calm while you ask them to recall what happened in their own words. This will help you make an informed decision about whether or not you need to proceed to a hospital ER for further medical attention.
Amy Thompson Run For Brain Injury In Kansas City
The 23rd anniversary of the Amy Thompson Run for Brain Injury will be held on Memorial Day May 31 2010, in Loose Park . This event is runs through some of Kansas City’s more attractive areas.
The run was started in 1988 by friends of Amy Thompson in honor of her memory.
Proceeds from the Amy Thompson Run for Brain Injury will go to the Brain Injury Association of Kansas and Greater Kansas City. Since 1988 the run has raised more than $1.5 million to help people with brain injury.
The run includes an 8K, a 2 mile run/walk and a Kiddie Dash. Courses are certified and chip timed. The run will start in Loose Park where you will enjoy, music, food and drinks after the run.
The Kansas City based personal injury attorneys at Roswold Law Group and the staff will be participating in the Amy Thompson Run along with their families as well as donating to support this wonderful cause. We hope to see you there!