National Concussion Awareness Day Is Coming

Observed on the third Friday in September each year, National Concussion Awareness Day was founded by a high school student in 2016 after she suffered a concussion. Some of the campaign’s primary goals are to promote public discussion, to increase concussion awareness internationally, to raise funds for brain injuries, and to show support for concussion survivors.

Concussions: General Information and Statistics

According to the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC), there are approximately 2.8 million mild traumatic brain injuries, or TBIs, every year; most of these are concussions. A concussion is a disruption in normal brain function that is caused by a bump, blow, or jolt to the head. Side effects from a concussion are typically short-term and can include complications like headache and trouble with memory, concentration, balance, sleep, and/or mood. Some of the most common causes of concussion are falls, sports injuries, motor vehicle accidents, playground accidents, assaults, workplace injuries, and bicycle accidents.

If you suspect that you or a loved one may be suffering from a concussion, you should seek the care of a trusted healthcare professional. While concussions are often categorized as “mild” traumatic brain injuries, that does not mean they are not serious. In fact, in some situations, concussions are deadly. That is one of the biggest reasons that awareness is so important – so that people know what warning signs and symptoms they should look out for.

Here are some examples of symptoms that someone with a concussion may exhibit:

• Ringing in the ears
• Headache
• Vomiting
• Nausea
• Fatigue or drowsiness
• Blurry vision
• Confusion or feeling as if in a fog
• Having amnesia surrounding the (injury) event
• Dizziness or “seeing stars”

Because they cannot describe exactly what and how they are feeling, it can be especially difficult to identify concussion symptoms in infants, toddlers, and children. However, possible signs of suffering from a concussion in younger individuals can include excessive crying, a dazed appearance, irritability and crankiness, loss of balance and unsteady walking, changes in eating and/or sleeping habits, vomiting, and loss of interest in favorite toys and activities.

According to the Mayo Clinic, you should seek medical attention any time that your child sustains a head injury, even if emergency care is not required. In these cases, it is always best to consult with a medical professional who is trained in evaluating and caring for pediatric concussions. If a child or adult experiences a head injury accompanied by ANY of the following symptoms, seek emergency medical care right away:

• Repeated vomiting or nausea
• A loss of consciousness that lasts longer than 30 seconds
• A headache that worsens over time
• Fluid or blood draining from the ears or nose
• Vision or eye changes. An example of this is if the black parts of the eye, or pupils, are bigger than normal or are of unequal size
• Changes in behavior
• Ringing in the ears that does not go away, or tinnitus
• Weakness in the arms and/or legs
• Confusion or disorientation, like not recognizing people or places
• Slurred speech or any other changes in speech
• Changes in physical coordination, like clumsiness or stumbling
• Seizure or convulsion
• Marked changes in mental function
• Symptoms that worsen over time
• Dizziness that does not go away or that goes away but comes back

Large bumps or bruises on the head, like bruises around the eyes or behind the ears. It is particularly important to get emergency care if these symptoms appear in infants under 12 months old.

Experiencing a concussion can lead to changes that last a lifetime. At Galfand Berger, our attorneys are experienced in representing victims of workplace accidents, construction accidents, motor vehicle crashes, slips and falls, and much more. If you or a loved one sustained a concussion and you have questions about filing a legal claim for your injuries, we can help. Contact a representative online now.

Philadelphia Personal Injury Attorneys at Galfand Berger LLP, Representing Injured Victims Since 1947

Contact the Philadelphia personal injury attorneys at Galfand Berger LLP today. Call us at 800-222-USWA (8792) or fill out our online form for a free consultation. Located in Philadelphia, Bethlehem, Lancaster, and Reading, we serve clients throughout New Jersey and Pennsylvania, including Allentown and Harrisburg.