Image provided by: Doctoroz.com

• The victim may not even be aware of having an injury. If the child is complaining of headaches, fatigue, difficulty studying, or change in mood, observe the changes in their concentration, memory, or behavior.
• If a concussion is suspected, have the child be evaluated by a medical professional. Under New York State law, a child or teen must not return to sports or recreational activities until cleared by a physician.
• After the child has received medical attention, she/he must get physical as well as cognitive rest. Do not allow them to participate in physical activity or strenuous homework demands.
• Allow for adequate sleep and plenty of hydration.

Here in New York, lawmakers have passed more stringent laws to address these type of head injuries in school athletes. Although it is good to have the state laws concerning this matter, knowledge and awareness are important factors of traumatic brain injury prevention.

If you suspect a loved one may have a concussion or other type of brain injury contact our Traumatic Brain Injury Group for a free consultation.

Read the full article here: http://www.doctoroz.com/videos/lets-include-children-concussion-discussion

If you suspect a loved one may have a concussion or other type of brain injury contact our Traumatic Brain Injury Group for a free consultation at www.lawampm.com.

Distracted driving can mean any kind of multitasking that impairs our ability to drive safely, but it usually refers to technological distractions like cell phones. Webster’s Dictionary explained why they made distracted driving their word of the year for 2009.

A sign of the times surely, distracted driving is another reflection – and consequence – of our ongoing romance with all things digital and mobile and the enhanced capabilities they provide. While it now may be easier and quicker to feed our multitasking habits, it is not always safe, and many jurisdictions are formalizing that position by making it a crime to text or otherwise use a cell phone while driving.

Texting linked to Tragedy

On August 5, 2010, a distracted driver killed two and injured thirty-eight people in Missouri. Cell phone records indicate that the driver had received 11 texts in the 11 minutes, immediately before the crash.

NTSB chairwoman Deborah Hersman called it a “big red flag for all drivers.”

A Disturbing Trend

In recent years more and more of these technology-related accidents have been investigated by the board. A texting train engineer caused 25 deaths in California. A tugboat pilot killed two tourists while using a cell phone and laptop. A Northwest Airlines flight missed its destination by more than 100 miles because both pilots were on their laptops.

How Common is Distracted Driving?

The negligence of these drivers seems staggering, but distracted driving is incredibly common. In a recent poll by State Farm Insurance, 19% of drivers admitted to actually surfing the internet while driving. And half of all drivers between 21 and 24 admit to thumbing through messages or emailing from the driver’s seat. The survey found that drivers think it’s dangerous when others do it, but not when we do it ourselves.

Preventing Distracted Driving

On June 12, New York Governor Andrew Cuomo signed legislation to upgrade enforcement of distracted driving laws and to add a point against the licenses of offenders. This type of legislation has gained momentum since an Upstate crash that killed 5 teens was linked to texting and driving. But are we doing enough?

Car Accident Toolkit App

Be sure to download the free Finkelstein & Partners Car Accident Toolkit App for your Android® or iPhone®/iPad®/iPod Touch® that will help to capture necessary information at the scene if you are involved in an auto accident.

Visit these additional sites for more information about the dangers of distracted driving:

http://www.distraction.gov/

If you or your family has been injured by a distracted driver, contact us for a free appraisal.

The New York Times (10/7, B17, Zinser, Subscription Publication) reported that emergency department “visits by children and adolescents for brain injuries jumped more than 60 percent over an eight-year period, according to a report released Thursday by the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention” in its Morbidity and Mortality Weekly Report. “The report said emergency rooms recorded an increase of visits from 153,375 in 2001 to 248,418 in 2009 among those 19 years old and younger because of traumatic brain injuries sustained in recreational activities.” The study found that “the sports most likely to lead to the injuries are bicycling, football, playground activities, basketball and soccer.” The CDC’s Linda C. Degutis, DrPH, attributed the increased visits to “growing awareness among parents and coaches, and the public as a whole, about the need for individuals with a suspected [traumatic brain injury] to be seen by a health care professional.”

Bloomberg News (10/7, Lopatto) reported, “Head injuries contributed to football accounting for 57 percent of trauma-related sports deaths among youths from 1980 to 2009, according to an analysis published in the journal Pediatrics in June.”

The AP (10/7) noted, “In 2003, the CDC started a “Heads Up” youth concussion awareness campaign targeting doctors,” which was also “bolstered by a series of studies that began to appear around 2005 that showed damage in the brains of former National Football League players.”

The Washington Post (10/7, Stein) “The Checkup” blog reported, “Brain injuries among children have gotten more attention in recent years as research has indicated that young athletes with a brain injury take longer to recover and are at greater risk of serious complications than adults, the CDC said. While brain injuries may appear mild at first, they can lead to ‘significant life-long impairment affecting an individual’s memory, behavior, learning, and/or emotions,’ the CDC said. ‘While some research shows a child’s developing brain can be resilient, it is also known to be more vulnerable to the chemical changes that occur following a TBI,’ Richard C. Hunt, director of CDC’s Division for Injury Response, said in a statement.”

In “Today’s Health,” MSNBC (10/7, Carroll) reported, “There’s a national movement to protect young athletes from concussion injuries. At least 30 states have laws requiring coaches to pull injured kids from games and another 15 have legislation pending. ‘The laws have three components: education; stipulation that an athlete cannot return to play on the same day as a concussion; and a requirement that the concussed athlete must be released back to participation by a health-care provider.’”

http://news.smh.com.au/breaking-news-national/a-drug-to-help-brain-heal-itself-20110314-1bu0j.html?utm_source=RSS+Feeds%3A+Aggregate+News+%26+Info&utm_medium=email&utm_campaign=Feed%3A+TBI_News_Information+%28TBI+News+and+Info+-+BrainLine.org%29&utm_content=Yahoo%21+Mail

http://www.scientificamerican.com/article.cfm?id=gabrielle-giffords-gunshot-survival

When you try your best but you don’t succeed (The frustration of tbi)

When you get what you want but not what you need (This always reminds me of the search many tbi patients make  for new things like different religions; almost like they’re trying to escape themselves; no matter what they achieve, they’re still stuck).

When you feel so tired but you can’t sleep (the exhaustion

and loss of sleep in tbi)

Stuck in reverse (no matter how hard you work you feel like you keep going backwards)

And the tears come streaming down your face (frustration)

When you lose something you can’t replace (you can’t replace your life, who you are)

When you love someone but it goes to waste (you may still love your spouse/loved ones, but you’re a different person so this love is wasted)

Could it be worse? (Could it?)

Lights will guide you home

And ignite your bones

And I will try to fix you

And high up above or down below (like the up/down metaphor, no matter if things are good (up) or bad (down), there’s no way out)

When you’re too in love to let it go (the only way out is death and you love your life)

But if you never try you’ll never know (will you settle the case and be safe, or risk it and try it)

Just what you’re worth (what will the jury say your life is worth?)

Lights will guide you home

And ignite your bones

And I will try to fix you

The Neuro Law Trial Group

39 Broadway, 19th Floor

NY, NY 10004

P:  800-890-3090

F:  212-962-5619

This is an unfortunate step back for the US Armed Forces, who have been a leader in brain injury study for sometime.  There are many lessons to be learned from this article, which I will discuss in upcoming posts.

The Neuro Law Trial Group

http://www.npr.org/2010/12/20/132145959/pentagon-health-plan-wont-cover-brain-damage-therapy-for-troops

> Read the AP Story on NPR