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Brain Fitness - Your Guide to Good Brain Health |
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1. Wear your seat belt! In a car, truck or airplane, your seat belt will help protect your head and brain from injury. Motor vehicle accidents are by far the greatest causes of brain injuries, accounting for 37-50% of all brain injuries. (Statistic from Amer. J. of Diseases of Children, Vol. 144, pages 627-646, 1990 and Brain Injury Association USA) |
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![]() Whether you are biking, skating or skateboarding, your helmet will protect your head if you fall. Make sure that your helmet meets or exceeds the American National Standards Institute (ANSI) and Snell Memorial Foundation standards for safety. Head injury is the most common cause of death in bicycle crashes accounting for 62% of all bicycle-related deaths. (Statistic from Morbidity and Mortality Weekly Report, Vol. 44, No. RR-1, pages 1-17, 1995) More information on bicycle injury. |
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3. Stay away from illegal
drugs! Drugs alter brain function - no question about that. Although damage done by some drugs can be reversed, some drugs may change brain function permanently. Why take the chance? |
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4. Know the risks involved with
sports! This applies mainly to boxing, football and the martial arts. However, even soccer, climbing, horseback riding, diving and skiing have risks. Always wear your safety equipment properly and be in good physical condition for your sport. In the United States in 1987 and 1988, 92,763 emergency room visits were made for injuries related to horseback riding. 18.9% of these visits were made due to injuries to the head and neck. (Statistic from Morbidity and Mortality Weekly Report, Vol. 39, no. 20, pages 329-332, 1990) |
Did you
know?![]() | Each year there are about 300,000 brain concussions that occur during sports activities. This statistic from the Center for Disease Control. |
I know it sounds impossible, but people DO dive into swimming pools
without water. Dive only in the deep end of the pool and make sure
that the water in the lake and at the beach is deep enough to dive in head
first. Also, be aware of any objects, such as large rocks, that may be
hidden under the water.
There are up to 1,000 spinal cord injuries each year in the United
States when people dive into swimming pools or other bodies of water -
(Statistic from Morbidity and Mortality Weekly Report, Vol. 37, no.
30, pages 453-454, 1988)
I know that you have heard this one before, but accidents do
happen and you can't be wearing your helmet all the
time.
I don't think I have to explain this one.
Firearms were the second leading cause of injury-related deaths in 2002.
A total of 30,242 firearm-related deaths were reported in the United
States in 2002. (Statistic from Centers for Disease
Control and Prevention)
Just in case you
fall off of a climber, a soft impact-absorbing surface will cushion
your drop.
In the United States from 1983-1987, 66.5% of the school
playground-related injuries involved the head and neck.(Statistic from
Morbidity and Mortality Weekly Report, Vol. 37, no.
41, pages 629-632, 1988)
Your brain needs energy to work its best.
Many chemicals, such as pesticides and cleaners, contain neurotoxins that
can kill nerve cells and damage nerves. These dangerous chemicals can be
found in your home or at places of work. Dispose of these materials
properly!
5. Look before you leap!
6. Look both ways before crossing
the street!
7. Stay away from guns!
8. Make sure you have a "good" surface around your
playground equipment!
9. Eat right!
10. Dispose of chemicals properly! Did you
know?
Each year in the United States, there are about 52,000 deaths caused
by traumatic brain injury. This statistic from the Center
for Disease Control.
*Note: Other data suggest that new
neurons DO grow in the brain after birth. This has been demonstrated in
rats, tree shrews, marmosets, monkeys and humans.
For more about brain injury and protecting your head, see:
For information on spinal cord injury, see the
National Spinal Cord Injury
Association.
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