MCG RECOGNIZES OCTOBER AS BRAIN INJURY AWARENESS MONTH

September 25, 2002

Augusta, Ga.- Someone in the United States sustains a traumatic brain injury every 21 seconds. Currently, an estimated 5.3 million Americans live with a disability resulting from a Traumatic Brain Injury (TBI) and 150,000 of these are Georgians.

Every year, 1.5 million Americans and 48,250 Georgians are treated and released from the emergency room for traumatic brain injury. MCG Health System recognizes October as Brain Injury Awareness month and provides some preventive measures and consequences of traumatic brain injuries.

PREVENTION:

• Seatbelts are 57 percent effective in preventing traumatic and fatal brain injuries.
• Regular physical activity is one of the best ways to reduce your falling.
• Children should play on soft playground surfaces with impact-absorbing material such as sand (10 inches deep) or wood chips (12 inches deep).

CONSEQUENCES:

• Short-term and long-term memory loss
• Balance problems
• Seizures of all types
• Depression and mood swings
• Unable to do more than one thing at a time
• Increased anxiety
• Trouble concentrating or paying attention for periods of time

MCG HealthCare is the health system of the Medical College of Georgia and is comprised of MCG Health, Inc. and the clinical services offered by the faculty of the School of Medicine and the members of the Physicians Practice Group. MCG Health, Inc. is a not-for-profit corporation operating the MCG Hospitals and Clinics, Children's Medical Center, the Georgia Radiation Therapy Center and related clinical facilities and services. MCG Health, Inc. was formed to support the research and education mission of the Medical College of Georgia and to build the economic growth of the CSRA, the state of Georgia and the Southeast by offering the highest level of primary and specialty health care.