Monthly Archives: April 2012

Keep Kids Alive Drive 25, a nationwide non-profit focused on preventing child deaths in car accidents, will spread its message throughout Colorado on Tuesday, May 1. The non-profit Drive Smart Colorado Springs is coordinating the implementation of the program in the Colorado Springs area. The main goal of Keep Kids Alive Drive 25 Day is to reduce speeding in neighborhoods, thereby preventing child injuries and accidents. Accidental injuries (which include auto accidents) are the number one killer of children in America, and injuries from car accidents are the biggest contributor. Over 4,500 children died from motor vehicle accidents in 2009. Here are some things you can do to help prevent child injuries on Tuesday and throughout the rest of the year: Slow Down Drivers who speed through neighborhood streets are 30 percent third more likely to crash into something or someone, according to AAA. Obey the speed limit signs and…
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Shaken baby syndrome (SBS), also known as abusive head trauma (AHT), results when a baby is shaken violently and the head snaps back and forth, causing cranial or brain damage. Causes According to the National Center of Shaken Baby Syndrome, parents are frequently calling to find out if falls, horseplay, swings or other activities can cause SBS. The answer: no. The constellation of damages related to SBS (which can include retinal hemorrhaging, subdural hematoma and brain swelling) is caused by rapid back and forth movement of the head, along with abrupt acceleration and deceleration. Jogging, swinging and bouncing are not causes of shaken baby syndrome. Symptoms Symptoms of shaken baby syndrome can be difficult to isolate and identify because they are present in many infants at any given time. If you see them acting in concert, however, your suspicious may be justified and you should seek a professional examination by…
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Recent research from the University of Alabama at Birmingham shows that victims of traumatic brain injuries (TBIs) have a harder time making significant medical decisions for up to a month after their initial injuries. This is a big development for those suffering from TBIs as there has been very little research on how their injuries affect their ability to make decisions on complex issues. Researchers found that the severity of the injury had a positive correlation with the difficulty of the decision. The more severe the injury, the harder it was for the patient to make the decision. A sample group of 86 patients and 40 healthy controls were tested on basic medical decision-making skills, including understanding, reasoning, expressing choice, reasonable choice and appreciation. The TBI patients were divided into three categories based on the severity of their injuries: mild, complicated mild or moderate to severe. They were tested a…
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