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Falls

Falls continue to be the leading cause of TBI (35.2%) in the U. S. Falls cause 50% of the TBIs among children aged 0- 14 years and 61% of all TBIs among adults aged 65 years and older.

Motor Vehicle-Traffic Crashes

Among all age groups,traffic-related incidents and motor vehicle crashes were the second leading cause of TBI (17.3%) and resulted in 31.8% of TBI-related deaths among adults aged 20 to 24 years.

Struck by/against events, including colliding with a moving or stationary object, at 25%, it is the 2nd leading cause of TBI among children aged 0-14 years.

Walking distractedly

Injury reports of distracted walkers treated at hospital emergency rooms have more than quadrupled in the last seven years, excluding many cases that go unreported. There has been a rise in injuries due to traffic accidents and pedestrians killed.

Assault

Assaults cause 10% of TBIs in the general population; 2.9 percent in children aged 0-14 years and 1% in adults ages 65 years old and older.

Unknown

21% of TBIs have other or unknown causes.

• Firearm use is the main cause of death related to TBI.
• 9 out of 10 people with a firearm-related TBI die.
• Nearly two-thirds of firearm use TBIs are suicidal in intention.
• Blasts are a significant cause of TBI for active-duty military personnel in war zones.

Fall Prevention

Children's Injuries are preventable.

Play Safely

Ensure a child's playground is made of shock-absorbing material, such as hardwood mulch or sand.

Injury Prevention

Supervise young children around fall hazards, stairs, playground equipment at home or play.

Sports Safety

Make your child wear protective gear during sports and recreation. For example, when skating, use wrist guards, knee and elbow pads, and a helmet.

Play sensibly following the rules, and don't use unnecessary force. Skateboarding at night can be dangerous, obey road rules, stay off the streets, and don't ride behind a vehicle for in-line skating.

Water safety

• Always swim with a buddy and beware of undercurrents when swimming in the ocean.
• Never drink alcohol and swim.
• Do not dive in water that has a depth below 9 feet and enter water feet first in foreign water bodies.
• Use life jackets for boating and water sports.

Adult Safety

The leading causes of distracted walking are: 

• Looking down on your mobile to text or play a video game while walking.
• Using headphones, talking on a cell phone

Senior Safety

Make living spaces safe for older adults by removing 

• clutter in walkways and tripping hazards such as throw rugs and mats.
• Place nonslip mats in the bathtub and on shower floors; Install grab bars next to the toilet and in the tub or shower.
• Installing handrails on both sides of stairways
• Avoid rickety ladders
• Improve lighting throughout the house
• Follow an exercise regimen to improve balance and strength.  
• Check your vision regularly
• Have your doctor review your medicines regularly

Motor Vehicular Accidents and Driving Safety

• Buckle your child using a seat belt, booster seat, safety seat according to the child’s age, height, and weight.
• Seat belts reduce severe injuries and deaths from crashes by about 50%.
• Drinking and driving puts everyone on the road in danger. If drunk, get a ride home or call a taxi.
• Distracted driving due to cell phone use: Distraction from cell phone use while driving (handheld or hands-free) extends a driver's reaction as much as having a blood alcohol concentration at the legal limit of .08 percent.
• Drivers distracted using cell phones are four times more likely to get into crashes serious enough to injure themselves; this reduces the brain activity output associated with driving by 37%.

Violence Prevention: Gun Safety

• Always keep your guns locked and unloaded.
• Educate children that guns are never to be touched as they are dangerous. Report to an adult if they see one, and police recommend the best way to avoid gun risks is to keep them hidden in your home.