Prevention

Simple acts like always wearing your seatbelt, proper use of car seats, taking steps to prevent falls in the home, and wearing a helmet can keep you and your loved ones safe from TBI.

There are many ways to reduce the chances of a traumatic brain injury (TBI), including:

• Wearing a seat belt every time you drive or ride in a motor vehicle.
• Buckling your child in the car using a child safety seat, booster seat, or seat belt (according to the child’s height, weight, and age). Children should start using a booster seat when they outgrow their child safety seats (usually when they weigh about 40 pounds). They should continue to ride in a booster seat until the lap/shoulder belts in the car fit properly, typically when they are 4’9″ tall.
• Never drive while under the influence of alcohol or drugs.

When is it important to wear a helmet?

• Riding a bike, motorcycle, snowmobile, scooter, or all-terrain vehicle
• Playing a contact sport, such as football, ice hockey, or boxing
• Using in-line skates or riding a skateboard
• Batting and running bases in baseball or softball
• Riding a horse
• Skiing or snowboarding

How can I make my home safe for seniors?

• Remove tripping hazards such as throw rugs and clutter in walkways.
• Use nonslip mats in the bathtub and on shower floors.
• Install grab bars next to the toilet and in the tub or shower.
• Install handrails on both sides of stairways.
• Improve lighting throughout the home.
• Maintaining a regular physical activity program, if your doctor agrees, to improve lower body strength and balance.

How can I make my home safe for children?

• Install window guards to keep young children from falling out of open windows.
• Use safety gates at the top and bottom of stairs when young children are around.
• Make sure the surface on your child’s playground is made of shock-absorbing material, such as hardwood mulch or sand.