Falls are the leading cause of traumatic brain injury
As reported by the CDC, falls are the leading cause of traumatic brain injury in the United States with unintentional falls accounting for nearly half of TBI – related hospitalizations.
Falls account for two-thirds of TBIs in adults over 65. Preventing falls is therefore key to mitigating the risk of TBI. Falls can happen to anyone and can lead to tragic consequences, even where there is no visible injury. A good example is the death of actress Natasha Richardson in 2009 at Mount Tremblant ski resort. Ms. Richardson fell and struck her head while skiing with an instructor. She never lost consciousness and was able to stand and resume skiing after her fall. She initially seemed fine and declined treatment but later in the night began to complain of severe headaches. She was rushed to the hospital, lapsed into a coma, and died two days later from an epidural hematoma – an accumulation of blood between the skull and the membrane covering the brain. Read More