Car accidents can leave victims with life-altering injuries. Some of the most severe ones are those caused by an accident that involves a large truck. An Ontario woman recently spoke about the consequences of brain injuries she suffered when a garbage truck rear-ended her car at a red traffic light. It took her five years before she found a treatment method that brought relief.
Adjusting to life after traumatic brain injuries
Cyclist in coma after suffering brain injuries, broken neck
Cyclists in Ontario and elsewhere are vulnerable. With hardly any protection, bicycle riders usually suffer critical or even catastrophic injuries when struck by cars. Even with a riding helmet, brain injuries can occur. One such an accident left a 26-year-old amateur athlete and teacher in a coma. On June 26, the man was struck by a vehicle while cycling in the interior.
The area of damage can determine the severity of brain injuries
Head trauma can affect people in Ontario and elsewhere in different ways. Brain injuries are unique, just like no two people are alike. The area of the brain where the damage occurred will determine which of the brain functions are affected. The left and right sides of the brain are called hemispheres. A nerve fibre network connects the two hemispheres, and the hemispheres have different lobes, each responsible for a specific function.
Summer activities increase risks of brain injuries
After quarantine and cold winter weather, most people in Ontario will likely embrace the warmer weather, and the opportunity to have summertime fun. However, the risks of brain injuries are higher at this time of the year. Summertime activities like swimming, hiking, biking and more cause significant numbers of head injuries each year. That is the reason for health care providers to call this the trauma season.
How much do Canadians know about brain injuries?
As Brain Injury Awareness month comes to an end, the Brain Injury Association remains committed to its cause. The association assures victims of brain injuries in Ontario and across the country that they are not alone. They note that knowledge about traumatic brain injuries among healthy people might give them a better understanding of the health care problems faced by people with TBI. However, each victim is affected differently, depending on the area of the brain that was damaged.
