Heads Up

By Meagan Dorsch

Approximately 1.7 million people suffer a traumatic brain injury (TBI) annually with 52,000 dying. While most of these injuries are mild, resulting in short-term disruption, such as from a concussion, many are severe, resulting in prolonged unconsciousness or amnesia and occasionally leading to permanent disability or death.

State lawmakers are working to develop policies dealing with TBI that seek to prevent injuries from occurring, diagnose cases of TBI, and to respond and rehabilitate TBI patients effectively. Two populations particularly vulnerable to TBI that policymakers have addressed are athletes, especially youth athletes, and veterans.

In this edition of The Buzz, we talk with Hollie Hendrikson, a policy analyst at the National Conference of State Legislatures who is tracking state legislation regarding TBI. Hollie talks about

Listen to this podcast (3:10) and find out what measures states are taking to protect young athletes.

You can also learn what steps states have taken to prevent traumatic brain injuries in youth sports.

Also, you can read an interview with NFL Commissioners Roger Goodell as he talks about the importance of laws to help prevent head injuries in students athletes in the February edition of State Legislatures Magazine. You can also view videos about legislation and see other steps the NFL is taking to improve football safety.

Comments

[Morgan W. Brown]

This is a crucial issue, particularly given how TBI has often gone undiagnosed as well as misdiagnosed and thus mistreated in many cases and which, of course, only makes matters worse.

It is therefore ironic how, while "[s]tate lawmakers are working to develop policies dealing with TBI seek to prevent injuries from occurring, diagnose cases of TBI and to respond and rehabilitate TBI patients effectively", there are those in the Vermont including the Lt. Governor and state legislators who are asking whether Vermonters still support the state law requiring the use of motorcycle helmets.

References:

Fact Sheet - Traumatic Brain Injury (via AGIS; via Family Caregiver Alliance; 2007): http://www.agis.com/Document/781/fact-sheet---traumatic-brain-injury.aspx

Senator William Doyle's 2011 Vermont Town Meeting Day Survey (via CCTV; question 8): http://www.cctv.org/news/senator-william-doyle-r-washington-town-meeting-day-2011-survey-take-it-online

The Doyle Town Meeting Day Survey Ritual Continues (via Blurt; 7Days Staff blog; paragraph 7): http://7d.blogs.com/blurt/2011/02/the-annual-ritual-continue-the-doyle-town-meeting-day-survey.html