MARCH IS BRAIN INJURY AWARENESS MONTH
The Law Offices of Jeffrey J. Kroll represents individuals who have been the victims of brain injuries. March is "Brain Injury Awareness Month." There is a continuum of levels of brain injury, but all are serious.
The U.S. Centers for Disease Control is encouraging school professionals, coaches, athletes and parents to learn the risks of concussions in youth sports in recognition of Brain Injury Awareness Month. The emphasis is on identifying when a concussion has occurred and ensuring that sufficient time has passed before returning to playing sports. A repeat concussion before the brain has sufficiently healed places athletes at a high risk for long-term effects.
In addition to an increased risk in sports, members of the armed services are at increased risk for brain injury. The Pentagon has a new policy wherein U.S. troops in Iraq and Afghanistan subjected to roadside bomb attacks will be pulled from duty for at least 24 hours and medically examined before being cleared for battle again. The goal is to detect injuries as early as possible.
Protocols requiring a rest period for healing and medical observation are essential to preventing long-term damage after a mild brain injury.