A study of over 40,000 pediatric brain trauma cases published by the New England Journal of Medicine indicates that the best method of reducing the severity of head injuries in children is to safeguard them in advance. This most recent study confirms findings from previous research conducted on pediatric brain trauma and sends an unequivocal message to parents that safety and prevention is paramount.
Over the course of the groundbreaking comprehensive study, it was determined that falls were the primary cause of brain injury in children under age 12. Most of those falls were related to bicycle, scooter, or accidents on similar devices. In fact, among adolescents in the United States, automobile accidents, physical abuse, and sports-related injuries are the chief causes of brain trauma.
Professor of pediatrics and emergency medicine at the Wayne State School of Medicine and lead author of the study, Dr. Prashant V. Mahajan, M.D., says it is good news that the study so clearly illustrates the importance of safety in the prevention of pediatric head trauma. Knowing the causes of pediatric brain injury empowers parents and caregivers to stop them from happening.
If falls from bicycles contribute to a vast majority of injuries, as they do, then equipping children with helmets and other safety gear should reduce the incidence of injury. Similarly, knowing that car accidents are the primary reason for head trauma for teens indicates the need to relay a strong message about safety belts to our teen drivers. And understanding that sports-related injuries are another significant cause of brain trauma for adolescents makes it clear that parents, coaches, and young athletes must be better informed about safety equipment and procedures that could drastically reduce their occurrence.
Dr. Mahajan, who has often, during the course of one 8-hour shift, treated children for head injuries who have been protected and those who have not says there is typically a reduction in severity of injury for those who were using protective measures.
The message he wants to impart on adolescents and their caregivers from this study is that protection goes a long way in the effort to prevent fatal or debilitating head injuries in our young people.
Adolescent Head Trauma Warning Signs
Behavior and symptoms after a head injury vary depending on the type and extent of the trauma. However, some of the most common signs and symptoms to look out for include:
- Headache
- Swelling of the scalp
- Vomiting
- Seizures
- Loss of consciousness
- Concussion
If your child suffers any of these symptoms after sustaining a fall or other injury, seek medical attention immediately.
Contact Our Pueblo Personal Injury Lawyers
If your child has sustained a brain injury in a fall, sporting event, or car accident and you believe that another person’s negligence is to blame, contact our Pueblo personal injury lawyers immediately. We can review your case and determine if you have cause to file a claim against the negligent party. Contact Pueblo attorneys at Smith & Smith, today for a FREE CONSULTATION – (719) 544-0062.
