Concussions - All Children at Risk, Not Just Athletes

Concussions and children are a rather popular topic with the media lately, as it has been an increasing issue that is in need of continued awareness. The Chicago Sun Times posted an article highlighting the major concerns parents should have regarding their children and concussions.

This article stated that nearly 300,000 high school athletes sustain concussions each year. This is an alarming statistic and it demonstrates just how essential continued awareness is for this issue. However, this article also suggests how important it is to understand that concussions are not simply limited to the field. There needs to be more awareness and coverage on the everyday occurrences that cause concussions for children, such as falls and other various accidents.

Interestingly, in the United States falls are the leading cause of Traumatic Brain Injury (TBI). Furthermore, research demonstrates that nearly half of children's TBI incidents are caused by a fall, rather than athletic participation. With new technologies that distract our children, it is vital that parents educate children on the dangers of such distractions and the importance of alertness and focusing on one task at a time. Also, parents should pay closer attention to help prevent injury from simple falls, when possible.

Gluckstein Personal Injury Lawyers would like to stress that concussions can have long-term effects, which can potentially lead to other issues that can affect a child's quality of life. Please ensure you are heightening your awareness when/if you suspect a child could be suffering from a concussion. Strict recourse must be taken; as this issue must be treated seriously and in a timely fashion, since symptoms are not necessarily immediately obvious.

Reference:

1. http://lagrange.suntimes.com/lifestyles/18560324-423/concussions-can-happen-in-all-kids-not-just-athletes.html