This June, let’s all do our part to shine a light on brain injury
June is Brain Injury Awareness Month where Canadians join together to increase awareness of the prevalence of brain injuries; the obstacles that exist for those with one; and the need for more services and support at all stages of recovery.
This year, the Brain Injury Association of Canada has launched Shining a Light on Brain Injury, a campaign to underscore the message that brain injury is often invisible to those on the outside. Yet, with proper awareness and education, we can shine a light on what others may not see.
This list, shared by the Brain Injury Association Waterloo-Wellington, aptly draws our attention to the prevalence of acquired Brain Injuries and why they are now being recognized throughout the world as the Silent Epidemic.
- 465 people suffer a brain injury daily in Canada, this amounts to one person injured every 3 minutes
- Almost 500,000 people in Ontario are living with an acquired brain injury
- About 3,000 of these Canadians will be left with physical, cognitive and/or behavioural consequences severe enough to prevent them from returning to pre-injury lifestyles
- 85% of all cyclists’ deaths in Canada involve a brain injury
- The highest incidence of traumatic brain injury are in men aged 16-24, twice as often as females
- 1 in 5 sport-related injuries are head injuries (concussions)
- 1 in 10 people will know someone who has suffered a brain injury this year
Symptoms of a brain injury can include moderate to severe effects and can occur and evolve days after the injury, such as:
- Sensitivity to light and noise
- Dizziness or trouble with balance
- Lack of energy
- Headaches
- Nausea and vomiting
- Trouble concentration and thinking clearly
- Problem with short-term memory
- Anxiety, irritability and feeling emotional
A person may not recognize or admit these problems, nor understand what they are experiencing. They also may not see the full impact on their lives now, or in the future. Caregivers take on a huge, and unexpected, role in attending to, and advocating for, physical, emotional, and/or financial support for the survivor.
Singer Katz understands that brain injuries uniquely affect every individual. It is part of the reason why legal claims to maximize access to medical and rehabilitation services for survivors are so complex. For a complimentary legal consultation regarding a traumatic brain injury, please contact us today.
#BrainInjuryAwarenessMonth, #BrainInjuryAcrossCanada, #SpotlightonBrainInjury
