Back to home Nov. 2012
Simple Tips to Prevent Serious Injuries
The results can be devastating and the causes vary, but traumatic brain and spinal cord injuries are preventable. That's the message Syndi Bultman, trauma injury prevention and resource manager at Lee Memorial Health System's Trauma Center, wants everyone to hear.
"Whether we are talking about babies, young children, teens or the elderly, there are ways to prevent these injuries," Syndi says. "The Trauma Center offers a variety of injury prevention programs—ranging from sports safety to drunk and distracted driving to falls prevention and more—to help educate our community, raise awareness and save lives."
The Centers for Disease Control and Prevention report that motor vehicle crashes are the most common cause of spinal cord injuries (SCI), while falls are the leading cause of traumatic brain injuries (TBI). Other causes of both SCI and TBI include acts of violence, sports injuries and shaken baby syndrome.
SCIs and TBIs can cause a range of complications from loss of sensations and mobility to communication problems and depression.
Nov. 12-18 is Brain and Spinal Cord Injury Awareness Week. In recognition of this annual awareness week, Syndi shares the following basic safety tips to remember year-round:
- Always wear a seatbelt
- Never text and drive
- Never drink and drive
- Never drive if you are taking medications that cause severe drowsiness or dizziness
- Don't speed or drive recklessly and don't run red lights
- Don't let your friends text and drive if you are the passenger
- Jump feet first into water to determine the depth
- Never shake a baby or young child
- Wear helmets when riding bicycles, scooters, skateboards or motorcycles or when playing contact sports
- Make sure living conditions are safe for seniors—remove trip hazards, install handrails and grab bars, and improve lighting
Trauma prevention classes are offered free of charge. For more information, call 239-343-3797.
“The Trauma Center offers a variety of injury prevention programs—ranging from sports safety to drunk and distracted driving to falls prevention and more—to help educate our community, raise awareness and save lives,” says Syndi Bultman.
The Long Road Back, Recovering from a Trauma