The Prevention Program’s main focus remains on providing educational programming in the schools and community and teaching children and adults how to prevent brain injury. The National Pediatric Trauma Registry estimates that more than 30,000 children a year sustain permanent disabilities as a result of brain injury.

Although vehicle crashes are the leading cause of brain injury, falls are the second leading cause. Injuries to the brain continue to be the number one cause of death among adolescents. Statistics indicate that 70% to 80% of all fatal bicycle crashes involve brain injuries and that 350,000 of those injured are children.

Sports injuries also contribute to the increasing number of brain injuries reported annually. Brain injuries generally result from collisions with other players or falls, during activities such as football, soccer, boxing, horseback riding, in-line skating, skateboarding and snow skiing.

Although generally unknown, violence has become a major cause of brain injury in the States. In recent research findings, there has been an increase in brain injury as a result of violent behavior. Injuries may be a result of use of firearms or child abuse, such as shaken baby syndrome and other physical violence in the home.

One of the most successful programs developed by the Association has been a prevention program in the elementary, junior and senior high schools. The School-Site Injury Prevention Program offers helmet fittings and prevention strategies to students with the intention of reducing the number of brain injuries each year.

The Prevention Program also offers seminars for professionals and community education geared towards adult groups.

For more information on the Prevention Program, contact Janell Mallein-Skinner at 816-842-8607 ext. 101.