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The human brain in an incredible thing! It’s one of the most complex and least understood parts of the human body, but science is making new advances every day that tell us more about the brain.
The average human brain is 5.5 inches wide and 3.6 inches high. When we’re born, our brains weigh about 4-5 pounds, while the adult brain weighs about 3 pounds.
The brain accounts for about 2% of your total body weight, but it uses 20% of your body’s energy!
It sends out more electrical impulses in one day than all the telephones in the world, and it’s estimated that the brain thinks about 70,000 thoughts in a 24-hour period.
The brain needs oxygen to survive. Unconsciousness generally occurs about ten seconds after the brain loses blood flow.
It can live for anywhere between 4 to 6 minutes without oxygen, but after that, its cells begin to die, which is one cause of brain injury.
Learn more about the different kinds of brain injury here.
© 2015 BiC
Brain injuries are often caused by traumatic blows to the head. While most minor bumps won’t cause brain injuries, there are a few things you can do to lower the risk for yourself and your family:
Wear a seat belt every time you drive or ride in a motor vehicle.
Always buckle your child into a child safety seat, booster seat, or seat belt (according to the child's height, weight, and age) in the car.
Never drive while under the influence of alcohol or drugs.
Wear a helmet and make sure your children wear helmets when:
Riding a bike, motorcycle, snowmobile, or all-terrain vehicle;
Playing a contact sport, such as football, ice hockey, or boxing;
Using in-line skates or riding a skateboard;
Batting and running bases in baseball or softball;
Riding a horse; or
Skiing or snowboarding.
Avoid falls in the home by:
Using a step stool with a grab bar to reach objects on high shelves;
Installing handrails on stairways;
Installing window guards to keep young children from falling out of open windows;
Using safety gates at the top and bottom of stairs when young children are around;
Removing tripping hazards such as small area rugs and loose electrical cords;
Using non-slip mats in the bathtub and on shower floors;
Putting grab bars next to the toilet and in the tub or shower;
Maintaining a regular exercise program to improve strength, balance, and coordination; and
Seeing an eye doctor regularly for a vision check to help lower the risk of falling.
Make sure the surface on your child's playground is made of shock-absorbing material, such as hardwood, mulch, and sand.
Keep firearms stored unloaded in a locked cabinet or safe. Store bullets in a separate, secured location.
©2015 BiC Bran Injury Center
Sports can be rough by nature, but that’s no reason to keep your child off the team. There are a few things you can do to protect your athletic child from brain injuries.
The most common head injury associated with sports is concussion. A concussion happens when a major impact causes the brain to bang against the skull and become bruised. Concussions can have serious consequences if left untreated or if they happen repeatedly.
If your child’s sport requires a helmet, make sure he or she wears it at all times. If they bang their head or are hit hard during practice or a game, tell their coach and a medical professional. Know the signs of concussion:
-Headache
-Nausea
-Vomiting
-Dizziness
-Sensitivity to light or sound
-Lethargy
-Trouble concentrating, answering questions
-Irritability
If you think your child might have a concussion, seek medical attention immediately. If a concussion is diagnosed, take a break from sports for as long as the doctor advises so your brain can heal.
Check out Nutcase Helmets
© 2015 BiC
There are a series of exercises and fun “brain games” you can perform to help keep your brain sharp and improve its function.
Just like the rest of the muscles in your body, your brain benefits from a good workout.
It can get weak and performance can suffer in areas that aren’t routinely used.
Check out our Brain Games for activities that will help test and improve your concentration, problem solving skills, speed and accuracy.
Brain injuries often go undiagnosed, or are misdiagnosed as something else.
The only way to know for sure if you have a brain injury is to undergo a comprehensive assessment from a qualified source, like the Brain Injury Center.
We offer a thorough personal assessment with highly targeted questions that will help us determine the best course of action for you.
Before you take the personal assessment, you can preview our free assessment for an idea of what the assessment entails.
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© 2008-2015 Brain Injury Centre