Hi, I am Marcy from Brain and Spinal Cord Datawork. Today I am going to be .talking about how to minimize the risk of traumatic brain and spinal cord injuries. Be sure to check the website for all that links and a recap of this article. If your loved one has experienced a traumatic brain or spinal cord injury, then you are all too aware of how life can be changed in a split second. I ask you to spend the next couple of minutes listening to the following information; not only for your own personal benefit, but you can also share it with others.
The two biggest populations at risk for brain and spinal cord injuries are drivers and athletes. Let us first talk about how drivers can minimize their risks of life-altering injuries and then live on to athletes.
First of all, we live in a busy world where our society puts great start in our ability to multitask and nowhere is this more evident than our road ways. You are crossing the interstate on your way to work not only to be cut off by someone yapping on their cellular phone, plan or make up or getting into their you have good clothes. Unfortunately, there is now a lot you can do about these drivers except to be watchful of them. But where you can really make a difference is in your own actions on the road. Always pay full attention to the road. You may feel confident in your ability to multitask while driving, but sad to say you that this type of behavior dramatically decreases a person’s ability to react quickly to situations. For the sake of your life, as well as the lives of the strangers who depend on you to be alert, turn off your cellular phone and put away all other distractions. Otherwise, you risk permanently changing a life and that is not just worth it.
Other things drivers should do to minimize the risk of brain and spinal cord injury include wearing a safety belt, driving defensively and never driving while intoxicated, fatigued or on medications that impair alertness.
Let us talk about athletes now. Sports are fine, but nothing turns that fun into tragedy like sustaining a brain or spinal cord injury. While it is important to prevent all sport-related brain and spinal injuries, these are the steps that athletes can take to reduce risks. First of all, always wear the suggested protective gear, if you are a cyclist, a skateboarder, a rollerblader or an athlete that participates in high-impact sports such as ice sports or hockey or lacrosse, that means wearing a helmet every time you engage in your activity. Second, be safety conscious and do not attempt high-risked tricks or stunts. Finally, prepare yourself by knowing exactly what you should do should a brain or spinal cord injury occur. If there is even a remote chance that the brain or spinal cord injury has occurred, seek medical attention immediately. Remember, brain and spinal cord injuries can be caused without any direct impact to the area of injury and sometimes, do not show symptoms for several days or weeks.
When it comes to minimizing the risks of brain and spinal cord injuries, we need to look out for ourselves, as well as for each other. When you think about it, it is amazing how often we rely on the judgment and competence of complete strangers for our own safety. Be aware and save a life.
This concludes our segment on how to minimize the risk of traumatic brain and spinal cord injuries. Remember to check our website for the most up-to-date information including resources and tips regarding brain and spinal cord injuries and thanks again for watching.
Transcription by:
Scribe4you Transcription Services