Posted by Lt. Cmdr. Cathleen Davies, Defense and Veterans Brain Injury Center on June 17, 2015
U.S. Marine Corps photo by Cpl. Jacob A. Singsank
In the warmer months, I love getting outside and being active with my son. As a 6-year-old, he knows how to bike, swim and generally run around — and he loves it! As his mom and clinical training and education chief at the Defense and Veterans Brain Injury Center (DVBIC), I know it is important to keep him safe, and prevent brain injury.
It’s vital to know that kids can be at risk for traumatic brain injury (TBI), especially in the summer. According to the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention, falls account for 55 percent of TBI in children. They can happen at the pool, on the playground, on the road or just playing outside. Almost 26,000 children and adolescents are treated in emergency departments for TBI caused by bicycle-related injuries every year.