June has arrived and today marks the start of Brain Injury Awareness month in Canada. In the United States, March is the designated Brain Injury Awareness month and if you live there you likely noticed a lot of awareness campaigns in your area.

With summer just around the corner, you are likely spending a lot of your time planning a vacation or family getaway as you look forward to taking part in a variety of outdoor activities such as cycling, hiking, camping, golfing and long walks in the parks. Depending on where you live, the warmer weather of the summer months may be long or short lived. Regardless, I know just how much you want to make the most of each day.

Today I am pleaing with you to put the safety of your brain at the top of your list of priorities in all the activities you will be taking part in.

Last June I was part of a media campaign designed to promote safety when using off road vehicles (ATV’s) where I used my own personal story as an example of just how quickly your quality of life can change after being injured on an ATV.

It was a moment in my life where I wish I could just hit the rewind button and have made the decision to wear a helmet instead of thinking that one wasn’t really needed. And that I would be safe.

I am certain making the right decision to wear one would have greatly reduced, if not completely eliminated, my need to be admitted to a hospital for two months where I went through rehabilitation to re-learn the basics of walking, reading and talking.

Not to mention coming to terms with the cognitive deficits and realizing I had a long road of rehabilitation ahead of me.

Brain injuries can happen to anyone, any age at any time and I am not suggesting for a minute that you stop living life and stay inside your house all day out of fear.

What I am suggesting is that you take a few moments to assess the risk of whatever activity it is you will be doing, whether that be cycling, diving into a pool, rollerblading, soccer, or climbing a ladder, ensuring you take all necessary precautions to reduce your risks of sustaining a traumatic brain injury.

Because……
Safety doesn’t happen by accident.

Share: 0000