Florida Group Unveils Brain Injury Exhibit
Over one hundred handmade masks created by the survivors of traumatic brain injury were put on display in an exhibit in Florida’s state capitol building earlier this week. Called “The Faces of Brain Injury,” this exhibit was created by the Brain Injury Association of Florida (BIAF), traumatic brain injury survivors, and their families. It sprung from an activity at BIAF’s traumatic brain injury (TBI) camp that the organization is using to heighten awareness about the needs of TBI survivors and families.
TBI Awareness Month
March has been named as “National Brain Injury Awareness Month” by the Florida legislature, and according to Valerie Breen, the BIAF CEO, “This year alone over 136,000 Floridians survived a traumatic brain injury. Of that number, 9,000 individuals, from the very young to the very old, now face life changing disabilities and at least 3,000 family members will be forced to give up their own dreams in order to care for their loved one. Recovery often depends on the family and the community; and, Florida families depend on BIAF to be by their side.”
Senate bill SR 1068 and House bill HR 9021 were created by Senator Aaron Bean and Representative Fred Costello to recognize March as National Brain Injury Awareness Month in Florida. The resolutions were passed on March 25 to make this an annual tradition in the state. The BIAF exhibit, “The Faces of Brain Injury,” was on display in the Capitol building rotunda in support of the awareness month.
Traumatic Brain Injury
According to the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention, traumatic brain injuries account for over 30 percent of all injury deaths in the United States every year. Every day, around 138 people die from a TBI-related injury in the country, and those who survive the injury can have disabilities that can last for a lifetime.
A traumatic brain injury is caused by a serious bump, blow, or jolt to the head. It can happen by something striking the head or by a penetrating force. TBI is classified as either mild or severe and the symptoms of TBI also fall into that range. Common effects of traumatic brain injury include impaired memory or thinking, problems with movement, sensation, personality changes, depression, anxiety, coma, and even death.
Certain groups of people are more likely to get a TBI than others. For example, men are almost three times more likely to die from traumatic brain injury than women. They also have a higher rate of injury and hospitalizations for TBI. Falls are the most common cause of TBI for both men and women, followed by vehicle accidents, assaults, and being struck by and object.
Call a Florida TBI Accident Attorney
If you or a loved one has been the victim of a traumatic brain injury because of an accident in the West Palm Beach area, let the experienced TBI accident attorneys at Gary Roberts & Associates help. Call the office or contact us today for a free and confidential consultation of your case.
