Prevention on the Brain

Prevention on the Brain: How to Protect Yourself from Concussions and Other Injuries

By: Scott Memorial Health
March 8, 2021

When you think about your health, some of the first things that probably come to mind are healthy eating, exercise, visits with a provider and other steps to help prevent and manage illness and disease. But there is another important factor to consider when thinking about maintaining good health – preventing injuries.

Injuries are one of the biggest threats to good health. According to the National Safety Council, preventable injuries are the third leading cause of death in the U.S., behind heart disease and cancer. In 2019, there were 48.3 million nonfatal, preventable injuries for which people sought medical attention; and preventable, injury-related deaths numbered more than 173,000. The majority of those preventable injuries were found to occur at home or in a motor vehicle.Preventing injuries

Concussions
According to the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC), about 30 percent of all injury-related deaths can be attributed to traumatic brain injuries (TBI), which can involve a bump or blow to the head or a penetrating head injury that interferes with brain function. Approximately 150 Americans die from TBI-related injuries each day, and even those who survive may suffer from disabilities that can last a lifetime.

A common form of TBI is a concussion, which results from a jolt or hit to the head or a hit to the body. When someone experiences a concussion, the head and brain suddenly and quickly move back and forth, causing the brain to bounce or twist in the skull. This can result in chemical changes and even stretching and damaging of brain cells.

Signs and symptoms of a concussion include:

  • Inability to remember events before or after a hit or fall
  • Appearing dazed or stunned
  • Loss of memory
  • Difficulty concentrating
  • Confusion
  • Clumsiness
  • Responding slowly to questions
  • Losing consciousness
  • Behavior and mood changes
  • Headache or feeling pressure in the head
  • Nausea
  • Balance issues or dizziness
  • Double or blurry vision
  • Sensitivity to light or noise
  • Not “feeling right” or “feeling down”

Symptoms can show up shortly following an injury or days later, so it’s important to stay alert to the signs and seek necessary medical care following an injury – especially if a danger sign appears. These can include one pupil being larger than the other; drowsiness; an inability to wake up; a headache that gets worse and does not go away; slurred speech; weakness, numbness or decreased coordination; repeated vomiting or nausea; convulsions or seizures; unusual, confused or agitated behavior; and loss of consciousness. If one or more of these occurs, you should call 9-1-1 or take the injured person to the emergency department for medical attention.

Prevention
The good news is that many injuries are preventable, and there are proactive steps you can take to help protect yourself and others, including:

  • Practicing strength and balance exercisesCarseats can help prevent injuries
  • Regular eye exams
  • Making your home safer with adequate lighting and removing easily tripped-over items
  • Practicing safe behaviors when engaging in physical activity, including safe play and using proper protective gear (including helmets while biking, skateboarding, etc.)
  • Using seat belts every time you are in a motor vehicle, and utilizing car and booster seats appropriately for kids 12 and under, and
  • Avoiding driving after drinking alcohol or using drugs.

Senior adults and adults managing certain disabilities can also benefit from installing grab bars in the bathroom and railings on both sides of stairs, as well as talking to their provider about other ways to prevent falls at home.

As the saying goes, “accidents happen,” but by taking simple steps and practicing safe behaviors, you can help yourself and others avoid preventable injuries and stay on the road to good health.

When emergencies strike, Scott Memorial Health is here to help. Our Emergency Departmentis open 24/7 every day of the year to care for you when you need it most.

https://www.scottmemorial.com/for-patients-and-visitors/about-us/news/protect-yourself-from-concussions-and-injuries

Contact: Nancy Riley

United Way of Scott County Indiana is pleased to announce that we are continuing our grants from the COVID-19 Economic Relief Initiative Grant, made possible through a partnership between Lilly Endowment, Inc. and Indiana United Ways, the state professional association of which United Way of Scott County Indiana is a member. These special funds will be used to boost the efforts on the frontlines of the Covid-19 pandemic. 

United Way of Scott County Indiana has been a key convener and coordinator of our community’s response to meet human needs for decades. Without a robust local safety net, those in need are bound to become even more dire. “Thanks to generous support from the Lilly Endowment, Inc., we are now more strongly positioned to help our community deal with the immediate and long term impact of Covid-19,” said Michelle Matern, Board Chair for United Way of Scott County, IN.

The COVID-19 Economic Relief Initiative Grant calls for United Ways that receive funding to leverage partnerships and relationships to better meet Covid-related essential and basic needs, and to address other Covid-19 critical issues as they emerge. Interested organizations should consult Nancy Riley, Executive Director at 

nancy.unitedway.scottco@gmail.com

 or call 812-752-2586 for guidance on funding intent and application instructions.

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THANK YOU FOR LIVING UNITED!!!!

Lilly Endowment Inc. is a private philanthropic foundation supporting the causes of religion, education, and community development focusing its work in Indianapolis and the State of Indiana. For more information, contact Judith Cebula, Communications Director at 

communications@lei.org

.

Indiana United Ways is the state association for United Ways in Indiana that supports thriving United Ways through capacity building, shared services, and partners. For more information, contact Maureen Noe, President & CEO at 

Maureen.noe@iuw.org

For Immediate Release
 
February 11, 2021
 
New Website Makes It Easier To Help A Child
 

Big Brothers Big Sisters of Southeast Indiana (BBBSSI) is happy to announce the release of their new website, 

www.bbbssi.org

“Our new website will make it easier for visitors to find information they need regarding volunteering or donating to help children in need,” explained Executive Director Gina Freeman. “The website is designed to be user friendly, and adapts for any type of device, so mobile users will have a similar experience to desktop users.”
“Regardless of whether a website visitor is a current volunteer needing information, or someone interested in making a difference in the life of a child, they can now easily find what they need online. Now that we are serving 6 counties (Jefferson, Jackson, Scott & Jennings in Indiana, and Carroll and Trimble in Kentucky) we need additional volunteers and an increase in donations to remain viable.”

The new website project was donated by WebX Marketing & Design, a Madison-based agency owned by local resident Suzanne Bradley. “I appreciate the opportunity to work with Big Brothers Big Sisters” stated Bradley. “Their old website was outdated and not user friendly, and our team had the skills to upgrade it and bring it into the 21st Century.”

“We were referred to Suzanne by a local business owner,” said Gina. “She asked the right questions about our goals and objectives and had a convincing portfolio. We are delighted with the new website, and have no hesitation in recommending her agency to others in need of a website upgrade.”

Big Brothers & Big Sisters specializes in matching caring adult volunteers with children in need of adult friendship and guidance. For those interested in volunteering or making a donation, or just interested in seeing what’s new, they can view the new website on their computer, tablet or mobile device by visiting 

www.bbbssi.org

.

Contact:
Gina Freeman
Executive Director
812-273.0797
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