Prevention

Prevention campaigns against child abuse and shaken impact syndrome have largely been educational campaigns provided by perinatal hospital staff and pediatricians.

Seatbelt use has been shown to reduce fatalities by 45% in passenger cars and by 60% in light trucks.

Aggressive injury prevention campaigns, such as the “ThinkFirst” National Injury Prevention Foundation program, aim to educate children on the effects of brain injury related to gun accidents and sporting accidents, as well as the benefits of seat belt use and general safety (235). The use of bicycle hel­mets has reduced the frequency and severity of brain injuries (260-263). Greenwald (2) reported bicycle helmet use decreased the risk of serious brain injury by up to 85%. Rule changes and better equipment in football have significantly reduced severe neurologi­cal injuries (29,249). Efforts should be made to prevent mild brain injuries by avoiding risky behavior, wear­ing helmets when appropriate, following sports rules, and training properly. Following these guidelines can minimize the incidence and long-term consequences of concussions. Furthermore, in sporting activities, as previously discussed, guidelines for returning to play should be followed to avoid multiple concussive events and worsening cumulative effects.

Other prevention strategies to reduce TBI include lowering the height of playground equipment to no higher than 5 feet and fabricating play surfaces on the playground out of rubber, sand, or wood chips for better absorption of impact in the event of a fall (2). Finally, prevention of pediatric TBI begins with adults modeling safe behaviors within the home. Whenever adults are around children, safety-conscious behaviors should be demonstrated, including regular and rou­tine safety belt use and helmet use during sporting activities.