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Sports Related Head Injuries

Sports Related Head Injuries

Charlotte, NC Traumatic Brain Injury Lawyer

The Winter Olympics are finally here! It’s thrilling to watch the best athletes in the world go head-to-head. The bobsledders, skiing, skating etc.

Part of the thrill, of course, is the danger associated with sports — which holds the risk for injury.

We mostly think of broken bones and torn muscles or ligaments when we think of sports injuries, but, in fact, the leading cause of death from sports-related injuries is traumatic brain injury (TBI).

According to the American Association of Neurological Surgeons (AANS), there were approximately 446,000 sports-related head injuries treated at hospital emergency rooms in 2009.

While most bangs to the head result only in injury to the scalp, TBI’s can be life altering or deadly because of bleeding or bruising of the brain.

If you or your child shows signs of a TBI, seek medical attention immediately.

Top 10 Sports Related Head Injury for Children

Sports and recreational activities contribute to about 21% of all TBIs among American children and teenagers.

The top 10 sports-related head-injury categories for children ages 14 and younger(listed from most injuries to least injuries) were:
• Cycling
• Football
• Baseball & Softball
• Basketball
• Skateboards/Scooters
• Water Sports
• Soccer
• Powered Recreational Vehicles
• Winter Sports
• Trampolines

While TBIs can ruin your life, the answer isn’t to avoid sports and play. Thankfully, TBIs are highly preventable.

Head Injury Prevention Tips

Preventing head injuries comes down to one obvious, basic rule – Protect Your Head.

Of course, for these common sense tips to work, you have to actually do them:

  • Wear protective headgear approved for the specific sport in which you are engaged. Make sure the headgear fits properly.
  • Perform regular safety checks of sports fields, playgrounds, and equipment. Replace sporting equipment or protective gear that is damaged or malfunctioning.
  • Wear appropriate clothing for the sport. Do not wear anything that can interfere with your vision.
  • Supervise younger children at all times. Make sure they use equipment and play sports that are suitable for their age.
  • Do not dive into water less than 12 feet deep or into above-ground pools.
  • Follow all the rules at water parks and swimming pools.
  • Do not participate in sports when you are ill or very tired.
  • Obey all traffic signals and be aware of vehicles and other traffic.
  • Be aware of obstacles like uneven or slick surfaces, low branches, etc.

Contact the Traumatic Brain Injury | Head Trauma Law Firm of Bice Law

If you have experienced a traumatic brain injury, take the first step to protect your legal rights– contact the personal injury firm of Bice Law serving both North Carolina and South Carolina. You only have a limited time after your injury to file a claim, so act quickly.  Call 877-BICE-877 today or submit an online request  to get a free consultation with a traumatic brain injury attorney Results are how we measure success – we’ve built a strong reputation both in and out of the courtroom, and we’ll put our experience and expertise to work on your behalf.

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