In recognition of March as Brain Injury Awareness Month, the Brain Injury Association of America (BIAA) and its nationwide network of more than 40 chartered state affiliates is continuing its nationwide education and advocacy campaign: “A concussion is a brain injury. Get the facts.” This year’s campaign launches with radio and print public service announcements, awareness proclamations and special events. A state advocacy effort to introduce legislation to train coaches and protect youth athletes will continue throughout the year along with ongoing nationwide education.
In accordance with the BIAA, the Brain Injury Association of South Carolina (BIASC) will host its 4th annual ‘Run For Thought’ 5k run and 1 mile walk/roll on Saturday, March 19 in Greenvile. To register, click here.
“Arrowhead‘s Annual Traumatic Brain Injury Conference, set to take place on March 7, 2011 in Washington, D.C. has been organized to bring together individuals from the biopharmaceutical industry, government, military and academia to discuss the challenges and opportunities facing those involved in the research and development and commercialization of new therapies for acute and chronic traumatic brain injury (TBI),” a Medical News TODAY article reported earlier this month.
Attendees will hear from a number of industry professionals and R & D experts, including representatives from the Walter Reed Army Institute of Research, the Shepherd Institute, Banyan Biomarkers, NeuroHealing Pharmaceuticals, and Duke University Medical Center, among others.
Presentations will address the following topics:
1. Animals Models and TBI: Translating Results to the Clinic
2. Designing Effective Clinical Trials
3. Drug Delivery Challenges Facing Developers of TBI Therapies
4. Acute TBI
5. Chronic Neurorehabilitation
6. Neuroprotection
7. Secondary Injury with TBI
8. Biomarkers and Molecular Diagnostics in TBI
The conference will take place on Monday, March 7th at the Executive Conference Center at Library Center in Arlington, VA. For information on attending, click here.
Attorney Malcolm Crosland Jr. speaking at a North Charleston recreational football meeting
Established in 2008, HeadsUp! SC is a nonprofit organization that aims to educate parents, players, and coaches about the signs and symptoms of traumatic brain injury in the hopes of preventing such ailments on the field. Every year, attorney and founder Malcolm Crosland Jr. attends a series of coaches meetings for recreational sports like football, soccer, lacrosse, baseball, and basketball to speak about such injuries and to offer techniques for prevention. This fall, he met with teams in Hanahan, North Charleston, Mount Pleasant, and the City of Charleston. For TheDigitel’s coverage of his efforts, click here, and for more information on head trauma and how best to avoid it, visit the HeadsUp! website by clicking here.
Traumatic brain injury (TBI) is the leading cause of death and disability among children under 4 years old and adolescents between the ages of 15 and 19. It is hardly surprising to learn, then, that according to the Brain Injury Association of America (BIAA), members of these age groups are also more susceptible than others to suffering a TBI—each year, at least 100,000 children are hospitalized for head trauma. So what can you do to keep your child safe? Educate yourself.
First, dispel any belief in the myth that kids are resistant to brain injury. “At one time it was assumed that children were more resistant to brain trauma than adults because their developing brains could rewire over time,” a braininjury.com article explains. “However, mounting evidence seems to suggest otherwise. In fact, it may be that children are more susceptible than adults to permanent brain damage even when the forces involved are equivalent.” So don’t always assume that your child’s fall on the soccer field is just a part of the game—be aware that because his or her brain is still developing, a fall or bump could stunt the organ’s proper maturation.
Second, recognize that a concussion is a traumatic brain injury. “Health care professionals may describe a concussion as a ‘mild’ brain injury because concussions are usually not life-threatening. Even so, their effects can be serious,” reports the CDC. They often result in difficulty concentrating, increased irritability, sleep disturbance, and a slew of physical effects like headaches, dizziness, and nausea. What’s worse, is that such symptoms can occur up to several months or even years after the initial injury. So, treat every concussion like the traumatic brain injury it is, and consult a physician to ensure the most complete recovery possible.
And finally, take precaution with your child. Enforce the use of helmets on bicycles and seatbelts in cars. Child-proof your home so small children can’t accidentally fall down the stairs or open second story windows. Prevention truly is the only cure for traumatic brain injury, so your education and awareness of the condition can make all the difference to the life and safety of your child.
On a recent episode of Lifetime Television’s show Army Wives, lead character Lt. Colonel Joan Burton was diagnosed with a traumatic brain injury sustained from a bomb blast while on duty in Iraq. The story woven throughout the remainder of the season will cover the character’s recovery, and will emphasize the importance of rest and therapy as tools for brain rehabilitation. The topic is a sensitive one, as the leading cause of injury among US. forces in Afghanistan and Iraq is TBI.
This concept is the product of a partnership between the Center for Disease Control (CDC), Hollywood Health & Society, and the network on which the show airs, and is an effort to raise awareness of traumatic brain injury. Click here for more information and a clip of the character’s initial diagnosis.
Mark your calendars for July 15 & 16, when the Brain Injury Alliance of South Carolina (BIASC) and the South Carolina Brian Injury Leadership Council (SCBILC) will come together to host a statewide conference called “Life With Brain Injury.” The objectives of the two-day event, as stated in its press release, will be to “provide a forum for the exchange of information on programs, resources, and best practices in brain injury rehabilitation and services” and to “facilitate opportunities for networking among individuals with brain injuries, family members, and service providers.”
Amid concurrent sessions on topics ranging from trends in rehabilitation research to sports concussions to caring for the caregiver, two keynote speakers will present. On Thursday, Kevin W. Kopera, MD & medical director of Roger C. Peace Rehabilitation Hospital in Greenville, SC, will speak in new concepts regarding brain function. As the principal investigator for several rehabilitation research studies under way at Roger C. Peace, Kopera has extensive knowledge on issues such as aging and driving, independence in the home, and the effects of exercise on physical and cognitive skills and mood in persons with traumatic brain injury. On Friday, Mickey Plyler, a Clemson-based WCCP-FM sports talk show host, will present a speech he calls “Life Lessons and a Miracle from a 16-year-old.”
A silent auction to benefit the BIASC will also take place during the conference.
For more information and the conference’s full brochure, click here.
As the state’s only nonprofit organization dedicated to brain injury, the Brain Injury Alliance of South Carolina (BIASC) is hosting two wonderful events on Saturday, March 13 to raise funds for research and awareness.
In Greenville, the association hosts the third annual Run For Thought, a 5k road race and 1 mile walk/roll. The event will take place at Furman University (3300 Poinsett Hwy, Greenville, SC 29613) and will begin at 9:30am. Registration will begin at 8:30am. To cover the costs of the event, adults are asked to pay $25 to participate, and survivors, students, and children under 13 are $15. Donations that exceed the cost of participation are greatly appreciated and will assist the BIASC in funding its prevention, research, recovery, and advocacy programs. T-shirts, snacks, and refreshments will be provided. To donate or register, click here.
That same morning, the association hosts the Lowcountry Brain Injry Awareness Walk in Charleston at Brittlebank Park on Lockwood Drive. Registration begins at 9:30am and the event will commence at 10am. A minimum donation of $10 is requested, and t-shirts will be given to each walker.
So join the fun this weekend and run, walk, or roll for a terrific cause!
