How to prevent a brain injury
- Never drive while under the influence of alcohol or drugs.
- Wear a helmet and make sure your children wear helmets when:
- Riding a bike, motorcycle, snowmobile, or all-terrain vehicle;
- Playing a contact sport, such as football, ice hockey, or boxing;
- Using in-line skates or riding a skateboard;
- Batting and running bases in baseball or softball;
- Riding a horse; or
- Skiing or snowboarding.
- Avoid falls in the home by:
- Using a step stool with a grab bar to reach objects on high shelves;
- Installing handrails on stairways;
- Installing window guards to keep young children from falling out of open windows;
- Using safety gates at the top and bottom of stairs when young children are around;
- Removing tripping hazards such as small area rugs and loose electrical cords;
- Using non-slip mats in the bathtub and on shower floors;
- Putting grab bars next to the toilet and in the tub or shower;
- Maintaining a regular exercise program to improve strength, balance, and coordination;
and
- Seeing an eye doctor regularly for a vision check to help lower the risk of
falling.
- Make sure the surface on your child's playground is made of shock-absorbing material, such as hardwood,
mulch, and sand.
- Keep firearms stored unloaded in a locked cabinet or safe. Store bullets in a separate secured location.
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