1. Who is most at risk for sustaining a brain injury?
   
   
2. What is the difference between a traumatic brain injury and an acquired brain injury?
   
   
3. How safe are school buses? Why don’t they have seat belts?
   
   
4. How effective are bike helmets in preventing injuries?
   
   
5. What is the best bike helmet to buy?
   
   
6. What can I do to make my child’s playground safe?
   
   
7. What is Shaken Baby Syndrome and how does it happen?
   
   
8. What are symptoms of Shaken Baby Syndrome?
   
   
9. How does a brain injury impact a person’s ability to drive a car?
   
   
10. Compared to a person riding in a car, how much more likely is a motorcyclist to be injured or killed in a crash?
    
    
11. What are the main causes of brain injuries?
    
    
12. Are athletic mouth guards really necessary for preventing brain injuries?
    
    
13. I have tons of sports helmets. Can I use any kind of helmet while bike riding or must it be a specific bike helmet?
    
    
14. How do I know if my helmet fits right?
    
    
15. When is a child considered old enough to sit in the front passenger seat of the car?
    
    
16. What are the guidelines for child safety seats?
    
    
17. Is it safe for two people to share one seat belt?
    
    
18. How should a seat belt fit? Should pregnant women wear their seat belts differently?
    
    
19. Should my child be in a safety seat on an airplane?
    
    
20. What is a concussion? When can I play again after sustaining a concussion?

1. Who is most at risk for sustaining a brain injury?
   
   Anyone can get a brain injury. However, statistics show that males are two times more likely than females to sustain a brain injury. The highest rates of brain injury typically occur in males ages 15-24. Individuals who have already sustained a brain injury are also at an increased risk of sustaining another brain injury.
   
   
2. What is the difference between a traumatic brain injury and an acquired brain injury?
   
   A traumatic brain injury is an insult to the brain, not of a degenerative or congenital nature, caused by an external physical force. An acquired brain injury is an injury to the brain which is not hereditary, congenital, or degenerative. Causes of acquired brain injuries include traumatic brain injuries, aneurysms, infections of the brain and stroke.
   
   
3. How safe are school buses? Why don’t they have seat belts?
   
   According to the National Highway Safety Administration (NHTSA) school buses are one of the safest forms of transportation. Different occupant safety protection measures have been developed specifically for the type of crash force buses sustain during impact. School buses provide occupant crash protection by creating a “protective envelope consisting of strong, closely spaced seats that have energy absorbing seat backs.” This concept is called compartmentalization. NHTSA continually monitors and evaluates school bus crashes, and the current data continues to validate the effectiveness of the current occupant protection system.
   
   
4. How effective are bike helmets in preventing injuries?
   
   Bike helmets, when worn correctly, are 85% effective in preventing brain injuries.
   
   
5. What is the best bike helmet to buy?
   
   Any bicycle helmet, as long as it is fitted correctly, will protect you from suffering a brain injury in the event of a crash or fall. Make sure to buy a helmet that meets the standards of the U.S. Consumer Product Safety Commission (CPSC), American Society for Testing and Materials (ASTM), Snell Memorial Foundation, or the American National Standards Institute (ANSI). Look for the standards sticker in the inside of your helmet.
   
   
6. What can I do to make my child’s playground safe?
   
   As falls off playground equipment account for more than 60% of all playground related injuries, it is important to make sure protective surfacing covers the entire area encompassing the playground. The Consumer Product Safety Commission recommends that playground surfaces have at least 12 inches of wood chips, mulch, sand, pea gravel, or safety-tested rubber mats. The protective surfacing should extend at least six feet in all directions from equipment. In addition, all platforms should have guardrails to prevent falls.
   
   
7. What is Shaken Baby Syndrome and how does it happen?
   
   Shaken Baby Syndrome (SBS) is a very serious form of child abuse. The Shaken Baby Alliance defines SBS as “a serious acquired traumatic brain injury caused when a frustrated adult “shakes” a child, usually less than one year of age.” Shaking a baby even for only 2 or 3 seconds can cause brain damage.
   
   
8. What are symptoms of Shaken Baby Syndrome?
   
   According to the Shaken Baby Alliance, babies suffering from SBS can present with a variety of symptoms ranging from “mild forms of irritability, poor feeding, vomiting, and lethargy to more serious symptoms of breathing difficulties, seizures, coma and death.”
   
   
9. How does a brain injury impact a person’s ability to drive a car?
   
   A brain injury can have a huge impact on a person’s ability to operate a motor vehicle. A traumatic brain injury can affect a person cognitively, physically, and emotionally. Depending on the location of the injury, vision may be impacted, as well as, perceptual skills, motor skills such as response time, and decision-making skills.
   
   
10. Compared to a person riding in a car, how much more likely is a motorcyclist to be injured or killed in a crash?
    
    Motorcyclists are about 14 times more likely than those in a car to die in a crash and about 3 times more likely to be injured. The CDC reports that motorcyclists represent 6 percent of all traffic deaths, yet account for less than 2 percent of all registered vehicles in the United States.
    
    
11. What are the main causes of brain injuries?
    
    About 50% of all traumatic brain injuries are caused by motor vehicle crashes. Falls account for for 21% and are the leading causes of traumatic brain injury in the elderly. Assaults and violence account for 12% of traumatic brain injuries, and sports and recreation 10%.
    
    
12. Are athletic mouth guards really necessary for preventing brain injuries?
    
    Yes, besides preventing dental problems mouth guards help to protect an athlete’s brain from sustaining an injury. An athlete’s mouth guard decreases the risk of a concussion by dissipating the blow to the lower jaw.
    
    
13. I have tons of sports helmets. Can I use any kind of helmet while bike riding or must it be a specific bike helmet?
    
    If you are riding a bike it is recommended that you wear a helmet designed specifically for bike riding. Every helmet is designed with the particular demands of the sport in mind. Therefore, a helmet designed for another sport may not adequately protect your head in the event a crash on your bike occurs.
    
    
14. How do I know if my helmet fits right?
    
    A helmet only protects you as long as you are wearing it correctly. Refer to National Highway Traffic Safety Administration (NHTSA) for detailed information on the proper way to fit helmets. http://www.nhtsa.dot.gov/people/injury/pedbimot/bike/helmets.htm
    
    
15. When is a child considered old enough to sit in the front passenger seat of the car?
    
    Children under the age of twelve years old should always sit in the back seat of cars. Check out SafeUSA at www.cdc.gov/safeusa/move/safemove.htm for more information about car safety.
    
    
16. What are the guidelines for child safety seats?
    
    • Infants under the age of one or children weighing less than twenty pounds should ride in rear facing seats in the back seat.
      
    • Children weighing 20 to 40 pounds should ride in a forward facing car seat in the back seat.
    • 
      Children weighing 40 to 80 pounds should ride in car booster seats in the back seat.
      
      
17. Is it safe for two people to share one seat belt?
    
    No. Every person in a vehicle should have his or her own seat belt. In the event of a motor vehicle crash, sharing a seat belt can cause extreme injury and even death as the two sharing the seat belt crash into each other.
    
    
18. How should a seat belt fit? Should pregnant women wear their seat belts differently?
    
    Pregnant women should continue to wear their seatbelts like everyone else. The seat lap belt should fit low and tight across the hips, below the stomach. The lap belt should not ride up across the stomach. The shoulder belt should fit high and snug across the chest and shoulders. The shoulder belt should not cross the face or neck.
    
    
19. Should my child be in a safety seat on an airplane?
    
    According to the FAA, children under forty pounds are safest on planes in a child safety seat. Children under twenty pounds should travel in a rear facing safety seat and children between 20-40 pounds in forward facing safety seats. Children over forty pounds are safer using the plane’s seat belts rather than a booster seat.
    
    
20. What is a concussion? When can I play again after sustaining a concussion?
    
    

    A concussion, also known as a mild brain injury, typically occurs when the brain is jarred against the skull. The injured person is usually disoriented for a few minutes following the blow and may or may not lose consciousness for a short period of time. The general guidelines about returning to play after a concussion vary according to the severity. For more information about concussions, refer to www.concussionsafety.com/concussion.htm

Parents of a child with traumatic brain injury face many unique challenges. Sorting out all of your questions and finding the right answers can be a complicated and exhausting task. The following links can help in your pursuit for some understanding and clarification. Armed with the right information, you can make the most appropriate and informed decisions for your child.

1) National Information Center for Children and Youth with Disabilities (NICHCY)

http://www.nichcy.org
NICHCY is a national center dedicated to providing caregivers, professionals, and educators with needed information on disabilities and other related issues. A section titled: Parenting a Child with Special Needs: A Guide to Reading and Resources is highly recommended for parents of a child with a brain injury.
**Also available in Spanish

2) Families and Advocates Partnership for Education (FAPE)

http://www.fape.org
Special education issues confound many parents. FAPE strives to inform and educate parents about the Individuals with Disabilities Education Act.
**Also available in Spanish

3) Wrightslaw

http://www.wrightslaw.com
This website is helpful for parents searching for information and resources about special education programs.

Traumatic Brain Injury (TBI) is a leading cause of death and disability in children. Taking the proper precautions to protect your child’s brain may be one of the most important things you can do.

Sports Safety
Sports can be great fun, but remember that all sports carry the potential for serious injury. Following the safety rules and teaching them to your children is an important part of the game.

• Brain Injury Association of America
  Our Sports and Recreation Fact Sheet provides current statistical information about different sports and brain injury and offers suggestions for prevention.
  
  

Transportation Safety
Motor vehicle crashes are the number one cause of brain injuries. As such, all efforts to promote safety while riding in a vehicle should be addressed with your child.

• Brain Injury Association of America
  Our Transportation Fact sheet provides current transportation statistics and prevention.
  
• National Highway Traffic Safety Administration (NHTSA)
  http://www.nhtsa.dot.gov
  NHTSA provides much statistical and prevention information on many issues surrounding traffic safety issues. Topics discussed on this site include, child passenger safety, air bags, seat belts, and vehicle safety.
  **Also available in Spanish
  
  

Playground Safety
Over the last few years there has been a dramatic increase in playground related injuries. Current statistics indicate that nearly 20 children die each year from injuries incurred on the playground.

• Brain Injury Association of America
  This fact sheet states current playground safety statistics while also providing parents with ways to prevent future playground injuries from occurring.
  

• National Program for Playground Safety
  http://www.uni.edu/playground/home.html
  This website serves as a public resource center for the most up-to-date information for parents regarding playground safety and injury prevention.