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Causes of Traumatic Brain Injury
Adult Brain Injury
Injury is the leading cause of death among Americans under 45 years of
age and brain injury is responsible for the majority of these deaths.
Alcohol is a significant factor in the occurrence of brain injury. More
than 50% of persons with brain injury were intoxicated at the time of
injury
Motor Vehicles
In the adult population (ages 22-65) motor vehicle crashes are the
leading cause of brain injuries.
Impaired driving is so dangerous because it slows reaction time,
alters judgement and affects alertness and coordination.
According to studies, driving after alcohol consumption is most
prevalent in adult drivers ages 21-49.
Firearms
In 1992, firearms surpassed motor vehicle crashes as the number one
cause of brain injury fatalities in the United States.
An estimated 30% of all unintentional shootings could be prevented by
safety features such as trigger locks and loading indicators.
Falls
Due to factors such as medications that affect balance, limitations
brought on by aging and lack of exercise, falls are the leading cause of
brain injury in the elderly.
Pediatric Brain Injury
Brain injury is the most frequent cause of disability and death among
children in the United States and more than one million children sustain
brain injuries every year; approximately 165,000 require hospitalization.
Falls
During a fall, a child’s brain is at special risk because of the
size and weight of the head in relation to the body.
Infants are at greater risk of falls from changing tables, cribs and
other pieces of furniture, stairs and baby walkers.
Toddlers and school age children are most at risk for falls from
windows, balconies, porches, stairs and playground equipment.
Each year approximately 211,000 U.S. children receive emergency
department care for injuries sustained on playground equipment, making
the use of this equipment the leading cause of injuries to children in
school and child care environments.
| Play Equipment: |
Number of
Injuries
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Number of
Brain Injuries
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% With a Brain Injury
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Swings
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100,694
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18,407
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18
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Monkey Bars
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175,489
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8,794
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11
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Slides
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53,219
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9,472
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17
|
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Seesaws
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10,012
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1,523
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15
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Motor Vehicle Crashes
· Unrestrained children of any age are more likely to incur a
brain injury and/or die in motor vehicle crashes than children that are
restrained.
· It is estimated that 80% of children who are placed in child
safety seats in automobiles are improperly restrained.
· Correctly installed child safety seats in passenger cars are
extremely effective, reducing the risk of brain injury and death.
Bicycle Crashes
· A child is four times more likely to be seriously injured in
a bicycle crash than kidnapped by a stranger.
· Between 70 and 80 percent of all fatal bicycle crashes
involve brain injuries.
· The use of bicycle helmets reduces the risk of brain injuries
by up to 88%.
Abuse
· Child abuse is the leading cause of brain injury among
infants.
· Two-thirds of children under one year of age that are
physically abused sustain brain injuries.
· Shaken Baby Syndrome is caused by a vigorous shaking of the
infant or child by the arms, chest or shoulders and can result in brain
injury and even death.
Pedestrian Injury
· Each year, approximately 50,000 children are hit by motor
vehicles, often sustaining serious brain injuries.
· Children are vulnerable to pedestrian brain injury because
many traffic situations and threats exceed their cognitive, developmental,
behavioral and physical abilities.
Teenage Brain Injury
Faced with issues such as peer pressure, underage drinking, alcohol and
drug abuse and inexperienced and impaired driving, teenagers are very
vulnerable to brain injuries.
Impaired driving
· Driving while under the influence of drugs and/or alcohol is
dangerous because it slows reaction time, impairs judgement and affects
alertness and coordination.
· The 15 to 21-year-old age group is over-represented in
impaired driving crashes, deaths and injuries.
Inexperienced driving
· Motor vehicle crashes are the leading cause of brain injuries
and death in teenagers 15-20 years of age. Inexperienced driving is one
factor for this, as well as risk-taking behavior and greater risk
exposure.
- For more information contact:
Brain Injury Association, Inc.
105 North Alfred Street
Alexandria, VA 22314
703.236.6000 www.biausa.org
Creating a better future through brain injury
prevention, research, education and advocacy
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