Head & Brain Injuries - The Facts

neil hudgell solicitors seripus abnut yeu HEAD AND BRAIN INJURIES INTRODUCTION A head injury can include anything from a minor bump on the head from a slip or fall, to a serious traumatic injury from a car accident or sports collision. Depending on the severity, the effects. can have a significant impact on the victim's quality of life. BRAIN INJURY - THE FACTS 1,000,000 135,000 2-3X Each year 1 million 135.000 people are Men are 2-3x more likely people attend hospital admitted to hospital each to have a traumatic brain A&E in the UK following year as a consequence of injury than women. a head injury. brain injury. 85% CLASSED AS MINOR PERCENTAGE BREAKDOWN OF THE 135,000 BRAIN INJURY ADMITTANCES. 10% CLASSED AS MODERATE 5% CLASSED AS SEVERE COMMON CAUSES OF SERIOUS HEAD INJURIES ****. ..... SPORTS INJURIES ASSAULT ROAD TRAFFIC ACCIDENTS EXTREME ACCIDENT AT ACCIDENT AT SPORTS INJURIES HOME WORK Particularly contact sports including rugby and boxing Including DIY accidents and Falling or large objects coming into contact with the head & Industrial accidents Including rock climbing & skiing slips and falls COMMON SYMPTOMS TRAUMATIC BRAIN INJURIES: Every brain injury is different and people may be affected to varying degrees by any number of problems depending on the severity of the injury and the area of the brain which is affected. COGNITIVE EFFECTS EMOTIONAL EFFECTS These are changes to the way an individual Many brain injury victims are left with some thinks, learns and remembers. different mental changes in their emotional reactions and abilities are located in different parts of the behaviour. These are often more difficult to brain, so a head injury can damage some but identify and treat than more obvious physical not problems: COMMON COGNITIVE AFFECTS INCLUDE: DEPRESSION Mood changes ranging from depression to LOSS OF MEMORY irritability are common after head injury. These Some people may be unable to remember can persist indefinitely. and there's a faces or names, what they have read or what significantly increased risk of suicide. they have heard. MOOD SWINGS LOSS OF VISUAL SKILLS AND The person may pick up a tendency to laugh or PERCEPTION cry very easily. A victim may find it difficult to make out ordinary pictures and shapes. LOSS OF CONFIDENCE This is very common after brain injury and a LACK OF CONCENTRATION person can need a lot of encouragement and Tasks may be abandoned before completion. reassurance. PHYSICAL EFFECTS HOW TO HELP HEAD INJURY VICTIMS Most patients make an excellent physical recovery after a brain injury. however there are sometimes lasting problems which can have a APPLY Cold compress for 20 mins every 3-4 hours significant impact on daily life. 500.000 people (aged 16-24) live with long term disabilities as a result of traumatic brain injury including: for first 24 hours. HEADACHES Tissue scarring can disrupt the normal flow of cerebrospinal fluid around the brain leading to a build-up of increased pressure within the skull CONFUSION & DROWSINESS SEEK Advice on the Excessive tiredness is common to all severities medicines they can of brain injury. take to reduce the pain. WEAKNESS / PARALYSIS Often affects one side of the body more that the other, This could result in a victim needing extra care. SLURRED SPEECH AVOID Slow, indistinct or rapid speech are common Stronger painkillers, as they can hide the signs of the condition worsening after brain injury. Some can even lose their ability to speak altogether. HEAD INJURIES AND CHILDREN 40%-50% Of the 85% of minor injuries - 40-50% are children. HALF HOUR Every half an hour a child in the UK will acquire a brain injury. At least one child every week will be admitted into hospital with a 1 CHILD serious head injury. DANGER Children are very active with little sense of danger. COMMON CHILDRENS HEAD INJURIES* "From Falls Windows Cots Trees Playground Stairs Equipment PREVENTING HEAD INJURIES While it is impossible to entirely eliminate the risk of having an accident. you can take steps to help reduce the risk to you or your child including: ****** 4 ... Reducing "Childproofing Wearing a hazards in the the home correct safety protective home that may equipment at helmet when lead to a fall work, when on a bike or playing sport motorbike and DIY. SOURCES https://www.headway.org.uk/Factsheets.aspx nhs.co.uk headway.org.uk nhsdirect.nhs uk Leeds and York Partnership NHS Foundation Trust neil hudgell solicitors serious about you Copyright © 2013 Neil Hudgell Solicitors