Seat Belt Use and Traumatic Brain Injury

Because traumatic brain injuries cannot be cured in the traditional sense, preventive measures are the best weapons against them. And because the number-one cause of traumatic brain injuries among Americans who are less than 75 years old is auto accidents, one of the best ways to prevent a traumatic brain injury is to always use a seat belt. Seat belts have consistently been shown to dramatically reduce deaths and injuries in auto accidents. The National Highway Traffic Safety Administration reports that of those who were involved in fatal crashes in 2001, 73 percent who were wearing seat belts and 44 percent who were not wearing seat belts survived. And one 1997 study of traumatic brain injury patients in 14 states showed that 46 percent of the patients whose injuries were caused by motor vehicle crashes were not wearing seat belts

Why Wear A Seat Belt?

Only one state in the U.S. does not require adults to wear seat belts: New Hampshire. Many other states make exceptions to their seat belt requirements for children under a certain age, or for those sitting in the back seat of the car. While some Americans believe that using seat belts can actually increase a driver or passenger's risk of traumatic brain injury, because the head is not restrained with the body, there is no evidence to support this theory and some evidence against it. Similarly, some argue that seat belts make users less safe by trapping them in the car in case of an accident, rather than allowing them to be thrown clear. However, in 2001 the NHTSA noted that 75 percent of those individuals who were ejected completely from a vehicle during an auto accident were killed. One percent of those were using a seat belt.

Seat Belt Use and Costs of Traumatic Brain Injury

Not only can declining to use a seat belt increase the severity of an injury, but it also drives up the cost of treating that injury. The government of Maine showed in a six-year study that those who did not use seat belts had higher hospital bills and longer hospital stays that those who used a seat belt. During that period, the study reported, 850 hospitalizations, with a cost of $17 million, could have been avoided altogether if the patient had been wearing a seat belt. Unbelted victims were more than twice as likely to be hospitalized or die from a head injury. And the crash victims who were ejected from their vehicles were 41 times more likely to sustain a serious or fatal brain injury than those who were not.

Proper Use of Seat Belts Can Reduce Risk of TBI

While seat belts can help prevent a traumatic brain injury, their effectiveness decreases when they are not used properly. Seat belts must be tightened to fit the individual using them. More than one person cannot ever use the same seat belt. If the seat belt is old or frayed, it is not safe and should be replaced. And adults should ensure that children who are under 4'9" and about 80 pounds use the special equipment they need to be safe. Infants and children under 40 pounds need a properly sized, properly belted car seat; older children should use a booster seat until they are big enough to use adult-sized lap and shoulder belts. There is also mounting evidence that children shorter than 4'9" should not ride in the front seat at all, due to the risk of injury from passenger-side air bags.

If you or someone you love has suffered a brain injury, you may wish to speak with a fully experienced brain injury attorney. Your brain injury lawyer can help you assess your potential claim, access resources and even gain compensation for your injuries and the costs of future medical care.

Listed below are more articles related to the above article from the "Health And Fitness" article category.

People interested in the above article "Seat Belt Use and Traumatic Brain Injury" are also interested in the related articles listed below:

Advice on the Correct Ways of Breathing

Without the availability of sufficient amount of oxygen, your brain, glands, nerves and other internal organs will never become able to perform optimally. It is enough to present the importance of oxygen that you can live without food for few days, but, without oxygen, no chance.

Advantages of Portable Hot Tubs

Any portable equipment is easy to carry around and easy to use and a portable hot tub is no exception. Portable hot tub can fit easily in the backyard of a house and is much smaller than a typical hot tub and is much easier to install. There are a wide variety and range of portable hot tubs and the buyer is at a confusion to choose the best that suits him or her. So, the various aspects that have to be taken care while selecting the portable hot tub can be summarized thus.

Affordable Jacuzzi Hot Tubs

Hot tub and Jacuzzi are mutually interchangeable words and a Jacuzzi hot tub uses jets of forced air to produce current and bubbles to produce therapeutic effects and for pleasurable purposes. In fact, Jacuzzi is a brand name and refers to the hot tubs manufactured by the Jacuzzi Company.

Hot Tubs for People with High Blood Pressure and Diabetes

A hot tub has the ability to work magic on the aching muscles and has the power to take away the exhaustion from a tired person and offers full relaxation. Hot tubs are also recommended by physicians for treating high blood pressure and type II diabetes because it has been scientifically proven that hot water in the hot tub is capable of dilating the blood vessels and make the job easier for the heart to pump the blood into the blood stream and thus produce relief to the patients.

Hot Tub Spa for Physical Fitness

The basic difference between a hot tub and a hot tub spa is the way in which they are constructed. A hot tub spa is usually made up of plastic or any heavy material and contains jets to soothe the muscles whereas in a hot tub, it is generally made up of a wood or cedar or redwood and fitted with pumps to provide relaxation. Physiotherapists recommend hot tub spa because the hydro-massage along with the buoyancy, helps in the treatment of sprains, sports injuries and related ailments. This article discusses how we can benefit from a hot tub spa.

The Right Fitness Equipment to Maximize Results

It is nothing but natural for people to wish to stay fit and look better. Exercising increases the metabolism of the body and enhances the energy level. Fitness equipment assist in achieving just this and there are a lot of fitness equipment in the market that one is amazed at the variety and options available.

Spas: Luxury, Indulgence and Life

The term spa originally was associated with places that offered water treatment. Today, spas of various kinds are available out there, offering you a full fledged body massage according to ancient Ayurvedic traditions of India to a pedicure or manicure session at the town spa. From treatments to indulgence, spas have a prominent spot in all major tourist destinations. Spa holidays or spa vacations are actively marketed by travel operators and you can find good spa holidays with very little searching.