Children, Safety, and Head Injuries

Being a parent is tough!  It's hard to draw the line between over protective and negligent...especially as it relates to head injuries.  How much supervision do they need?  What should they be allowed to do?  How much protection is needed? What symptoms or behavior changes are concerning? All of these, are questions that keep many parents from sleeping and increase gray hairs at a rapid rate.

Sure, you want your child to be able to run and play and do all the things kids should do.  But, since children aren't aware of what to look for, or how to be careful is some instances, it is important as parents to provide that guidance.  And since it is impossible to watch them at all times, parents need to be attentive to a child's complaints and/or changes in behavior and provide some simple preventative measures.

One of the  most basic and convenient protective measures, is to provide bike helmets.  Now that summer is here, put their bike helmets on whenever they ride bikes, scooters, rollerblades, or skateboards.  This simple step can can make such a difference.  It is important to note that even a small bump on the head can result in brain stress.  Particularly, when a child is in the prime of their neurological development.

Another way to protect your child from long term effects of a head injury is to be aware of any change in their behavior or complaints.  Kids are very active an often have many hits to the head or bumps that they neglect to tell parents about.  Maybe it was a baseball to the head in the park, or a fall off the swing.  Often, these injuries don't get mentioned to parents but could possibly have caused some brain stress.

So as a parent, it is important to stay vigilant and watch for any changes such as: headaches, nausea, confusion, asking the same questions, blurred vision, reading changes, poor balance, shaky hands, or light sensitivity.  If you notice any of these, be sure to ask your child more questions about potential injuries they may have endured.  If you don't get the answers you need, don't hesitate to contact us!  We provide the most comprehensive and contemporary approach to brain injuries, and neurological child development.