Traumatic Brain Injuries (TBI) in children 14 and under result in 400,000 emergency room visits, 29,000 hospitalizations and 3,000 deaths each year in the United States.  Often the injuries are the result of avoidable accidents and St. Mary’s is working to promote numerous preventative steps that can be taken by children, parents, sports coaches and others to avoid these potentially serious injuries.

“Traumatic Brain Injuries are the leading cause of accidental death for children,” said Dr. Paul Berger-Gross, St. Mary’s TBI Program Director.  “Some of these catastrophic injuries are entirely unavoidable but many others – from sports related concussions, to bicycle accidents where children are not wearing helmets – are in fact preventable.  Raising awareness of brain injuries and basic steps that can be taken to prevent them will literally save lives.”

As part of their campaign, St. Mary’s has sent Brain Injury Awareness packets to elementary and high schools across the New York region.  They are also planning community events including car seat fittings to ensure that car seats are installed properly and bike helmet give-aways.  Dr. Berger-Gross will be working with the New York High School Athletic Association to teach players and coaches how to better prevent and protect against brain injuries.

“With spring around the corner New York’s children will be ramping up their outdoor activities,” Dr. Berger-Gross added.  “At. St. Mary’s we work every day with amazing children whose lives were dramatically changed on a simple spring afternoon.  We want to make sure everyone is aware of the steps they can take to avoid brain injuries.”

Brain Injuries can be mild, like those from a simple concussion or a low-level single ingestion of lead paint.  Or, they can range to the severe and life-changing consequences of traumatic injuries like motor vehicle accidents or non-traumatic causes like drowning, infections, tumors and strokes.

St. Mary’s is promoting “Simple Steps to Head Health and Injury Prevention, including:

·         Effective use of seatbelts and car seats.  Most car seats are not used properly – make sure yours are.

·         Employ helmets where appropriate (e.g., biking, skating/boarding, skiing, etc.). 

·         Teach and use safe sports techniques.

·         Teens can get meningitis vaccine to prevent a rare, but potentially fatal disorder.

·         Remember small children can suffer brain injuries or drown in very small amounts of water.  Supervision of children in bathing and water sports situations is key. 

·         Managing sports concussions.  Knowing when it is ok to step back on the field is key to preventing reoccurring and serious brain injuries.

For more information on what you can do to help prevent brain injuries please visit www.stmaryskids.org or call 718-281-8800.