What is it and how does it happen?
Brain Injury Is Also Known As:
- Acquired Brain Injury
- Traumatic Brain Injury
- Head Injury
- Acquired Cerebral Insult
- Alcohol Related Brain Injury
Brain Injury: A Definition
Brain injury is not a disease, or something you can “catch”. Brain Injury is defined as a loss of brain function caused by:
Accidents
- road accident
- sport and/or work related
- assaults
Poisoning
- drinking too much alcohol
- overuse of prescribed drugs
- use of illegal drugs
- petrol and chemical sniffing
Stroke
- rupture of a blood vessel in the brain
- blockage of blood supply to the brain
Brain tumours
- cancerous
- non-cancerous
Infections
- meningitis
- encephalitis
Lack of oxygen
- near drowning
- severe asthma attack
- lack of blood flow to the brain
A brain injury can have very serious effects on the lives of people who sustain the injury and those that support and assist them.
The Statistics
Each year in NSW, about 10,000 people will sustain a Traumatic Brain Injury. 70% of these injuries will be caused by motor vehicle accidents. 70% will involve people aged between 16 and 24 years. Of all the injuries about 1,000 people will have a permanent disability, and, about 300 will have a severe disability.
Plus, at least 37,000 Australians suffer a stroke each year. This often leads to brain injury.
Plus, approximately 2% of the Australian population is estimated to have developed a brain injury related to the effects of alcohol and, or drug abuse.
What Can You Do If You Think A Work Colleague, Friend Or Relative Has Had A Brain Injury?
If a person has had a mild brain injury, you might not notice any significant changes. However, you may see effects such as:
- Memory loss - short and long term
- Easily distracted
- Inability to do the same work as they used to
- Quickly aroused to anger or sadness
- Sticking to the one idea for a long time
- Inability to solve problems or make decisions
- Get tired very quickly
- Sudden changes in sexual desires
Ask them to see a doctor, or, talk to your doctor about it.
There are Brain Injury Rehabilitation Programs in place in several locations around New South Wales. These centres have the staff and expertise to arrange assessment and rehabilitation programs for anyone who has had a brain injury.
These centres are located in Sydney and:
Coffs Harbour
Port Macquarie
Newcastle
Tamworth
Dubbo
Bathurst
Orange
Wollongong
Albury
Goulburn
Canberra
In Sydney, the Prince of Wales Children’s Hospital and the Children’s Hospital at Westmead have specialists to help children who have had a brain injury.
The Liverpool Hospital, Westmead Hospital and Ryde Rehabilitation Hospital have Brain Injury Units designed specifically for people who have had a brain injury who need to undergo rehabilitation.
The Royal Prince Alfred Hospital in Sydney has specialists to help people who have sustained an alcohol or other drug related brain injury.
How Can You Prevent Brain Injury?
- Wear a helmet or stack-hat when using skates, roller-blades, push-bikes and skateboards.
- Use ladders correctly and wear a hard-hat in safety areas in the factory, warehouse or workshop.
- Enjoy a drink but don’t get drunk.
- Don’t use drugs or chemicals without a doctors prescription.
- Drive carefully and don’t speed.
* Source : Brain Injury Association of NSW
