A recent study was conducted to determine which products and activities are most likely to be involved in traumatic brain injury (TBI) at different ages during childhood. Researchers used data provided by the U.S. Consumer Product Safety Commission (CPSC) that was based on more than four million children and teens treated at emergency departments only for non-fatal TBIs over a four-year period.
What is TBI?
The CPSC database identifies Traumatic brain injury, or TBI, as all head injuries classified as concussion, fracture or internal organ injury–the most frequent TBI diagnosis is the latter (76. percent). TBI occurs when a sudden bump, blow, jolt or penetrating wound to the head damages the brain. About 2.8 million Americans experience a TBI each year, including 812,000 children aged 17 or younger, estimates the CPSC.
TBI Causes – Beware of Beds
A child’s stage of development is an important factor in TBI because injury incidence and causes vary with age, according to the study. About 72 percent of non-fatal TBIs were associated with consumer products, such as home furnishings and fixtures.
Infants often fall and suffer TBIs when placed on beds or other furniture. Researchers found the leading cause of traumatic brain injury (TBI) among infants under one year old is falling from a bed, followed by falls on slippery or uneven flooring, sofas and stairs, and in fifth place car seats used outside of the car.
Among toddlers who suffered TBIs, stairs were the number one cause, followed by flooring and beds, particularly bunk beds– children can easily fall from the top bunk of a bunk bed while sleeping or playing and sustain a TBI. The 5- to 9-year-old group mainly suffered TBIs from flooring and bicycles.
In older children and adolescents (ages 10-14), the five leading causes of TBI involved sports or recreational activities. In order: football, basketball, bicycles, soccer and baseball/softball. Football is also the leading cause of TBI among 15- to 19-year-olds. (Other studies have shown that, despite wearing helmets that can protect against severe skull fractures, they cannot prevent concussions.)
If your child has suffered a TBI due to a defective product, you may be entitled to recover damages from the party or parties responsible. Child-injury lawyer Jeffrey Killino is dedicated to helping children and families obtain the compensation they deserve. Contact Jeffrey Killino at 877-875-2927 to learn about your legal options.
TBI Prevention
The reason for this study is to help policymakers develop priorities for TBI prevention programs, and to help parents reduce hazards in the home, wrote the study’s authors. Recommended strategies to prevent TBI in and around the home include:
- removing tripping hazards such as area rugs
- improving lighting
- avoiding hard surface playground
- increasing use of home safety devices such as stair gates
- using stairway handrails without sharp edges
“Uneven flooring and prefabricated stairs often contribute to falls. Slipping, tripping and falling are very common,” said Bina Ali, one author of the study. “Some falls can cause serious head injuries.”
The authors also noted that caregiver education and home safety visits are critical to the prevention of TBIs in younger children. As well, enforcement of game and playground safety rules, consistent and proper use of safety gear, notably helmets, adult supervision, and education of youth athletes, parents, and coaches in the risks of TBI are all recommended measures to prevent TBI in sports, according to the American Academy of Pediatrics.
Nationally-recognized child injury attorney Jeffrey Killino has handled a wide variety of defective product cases that have caused Traumatic Brain Injury, or TBI. Our experienced attorneys, paralegals, and investigators share the goal of helping injured families win the compensation they need and the justice they deserve. If your child has suffered a TBI in a preventable accident caused by negligence or a defective product, call us today at 1-877-875-2927.
