Brain Injury Awareness Month, which occurs every June in Canada, is an important event for the country’s brain injury lawyers, safety activists, and public health and safety officials. It is an opportunity to draw attention to the prevalence of brain injuries in Canada and to the serious health challenges they cause.
More than 20,000 people per year are hospitalized with traumatic brain injuries and concussions in Canada. In 2016-17 alone, hospital emergency departments diagnosed around 46,000 concussions in children and youth. Yet, despite these lofty numbers, most brain injuries are preventable. During Brain Injury Awareness Month, stakeholders aim to educate Canadians on how to avoid brain injuries in themselves and others. In 2015, for example, then-Health Minister Rona Ambrose advised Canadians to take these precautionary measures in a release:
- Operate motor vehicles safely and without the distraction of mobile devices
- Wear proper headgear for sports like hockey, football and biking
- Take action to prevent falls among older adult in their homes and communities
- Ensure playing areas are clear of hazards, and
- Follow proper safety procedures when taking part in organized sports and other activities.
Another important aspect of Brain Injury Awareness Month is supporting organizations that research brain injuries and provide services to survivors. Some of these organizations include:
- Parachute Canada, an organization which works to reduce preventable injuries and collaborated with the federal government on the Canadian Guideline on Concussion in Sport
- The Ontario Brain Injury Association (OBIA), which provides and disseminates information and educational tools relating to all aspects of acquired brain injury
- The Brain Injury Society of Toronto (BIST), a non-profit organization supporting acquired brain injury survivors in Canada’s largest city, and
- The Canadian Traumatic Brain Injury Research Consortium, which receives funding through the Canadian Institutes for Health Research and recently embarked on a project to identify biomarkers to improve assessment of concussions in children.
As Ontario’s brain injury lawyers know, a serious brain injury can occur to anyone at any time. Traumatic brain injuries are often addressed in personal injury lawsuits involving car accidents, slip-and-falls, cycling accidents, boating accidents, and more.
If you or a member of your family have experienced a head injury as a result of an accident, contact Will Davidson LLP today to learn how our experienced team of brain injury lawyers can help. Our group will provide the advice, guidance, and representation you need to secure compensation to fund your recovery.
Image credit: University of the Fraser Valley