What is a Concussion?
A concussion is, “a jarring of the brain substance, by a fall, blow, or other external injury, without laceration of its tissue, or with only microscopical laceration.” (Black’s Law Dictionary 364. 4th Ed. Rev. 1968)
What is a Concussion?
Concussions are caused by violent blows or jolts to the head, and result in altered brain function. Concussions are serious injuries, and it is important to recognize the symptoms of a concussion, like loss of consciousness, nausea, dizziness, disorientation, headaches, and other medical issues. Multiple concussions can be life-threatening.
A concussion can have great legal ramifications. It is cited as a term in legal definitions, and included in cases such as Mathews v. Hayne as evidence of severe injuries in accidents. Concussions are specifically important in cases involving personal injury claims or incidents where negligence is alleged. They can lead to claims for medical expenses, lost wages and pain and suffering, and sometimes other damages depending on the circumstances of the injury. Medical records of concussions may serve as evidence.
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Injury Rate From Bounce Houses Soaring
Pennsylvania parents thinking of renting a portable bounce house or moonwalk for their child’s next party might want to think again.
Every 46 minutes a child is injured in an inflatable bouncer, according to a recent study in the journal Pediatrics.
Thirty children are taken to emergency rooms each day for broken bones, sprains, cuts and concussions from bounce house accidents. Their average age is seven years old.
Most are hurt when they collide with another bouncer or fall inside or outside of the inflatable device.
Following is from a CBS News report:
Falls accounted for 43 percent of injuries, followed by stunts and collisions. Forty-four percent of the injuries occurred at a recreational setting and 38 percent occurring at home.
More than 27 percents of injuries were fractures, […]
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Steeler Says New Football Helmet Liner Protects Against TBI
A new “concussion reduction” football helmet liner holds the promise of reducing brain injuries – and one believer is Pittsburgh Steelers linebacker James Harrison.
“I haven’t had any ringers, spots, blackouts or anything like that since I started wearing it,” said Harrison in a USA Today story on the new protective headgear.
This is hopeful news for participants in all sports, but especially for young football players. High school football accounted for the greatest number of severe injuries of all fall sports in 2011, according to a sports injury research study at the University of North Carolina in Chapel Hill. Many of these were Traumatic Brain Injuries (TBI) caused by a violent impact to the brain. There were two deaths – both caused by hard hits.
The new helmet liner is made by Unequal Technologies. […]
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Pennsylvania Student Athletes Offered Protection Under Sudden Cardiac Arrest Prevention Bill
Earlier this month we reported on the safety ranking of Pennsylvania in respect to safety initiatives states take to prevent injuries and death among their residents. Pennsylvania was recognized for having a strong youth sports concussion safety law. Now, Governor Tom Corbett has signed a new law that will offer additional protection to young athletes – an act establishing standards for preventing sudden cardiac arrest (SCA) and death in student athletes.
According to the American Academy of Pediatrics, SCA is the abrupt and unexpected loss of heart function, and can cause death if not treated within minutes. SCA is attributed to more than 2,000 deaths in the United States each year. The New York Times reports that while sedentary youths are susceptible to SCA, the risk is nearly three times higher in competitive athletes. In addition, a high school student dies of cardiac arrest as often as every three days. […]
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PA ranked 30th in U.S. for injury deaths
Researchers set out to determine which U.S. states are the safest. In a study released last month, each state was ranked by 10 key indicators of steps states can take to prevent injuries, including those caused by accidents and violence, to their residents. Pennsylvania received a score of 5 out of 10, leaving the state plenty of room for improvement.
The study, entitled “The Facts Hurt: A State-By-State Injury Prevention Policy Report,” by the Trust for America’s Health (TFAH) and the Robert Wood Johnson Foundation (RWJF), looked at each state, ranking them on a 10 to 0 scale, with states receiving one point for each of 10 policies that could improve safety. Two states, California and New York, scored nine out of the possible 10 points, and had the best overall ratings. Montana and Ohio both scored the worst overall with just 2 points each. […]
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