Welcome to the SC Brain Injury Safety Net!
WHAT IS THE BRAIN INJURY SAFETY NET?
Launched in 2019, the SC Brain Injury Safety Net (or “Safety Net”) is a grant-funded program established to provide updated, high-quality training and educational resources for schools, families, and healthcare professionals on best practices for treating and managing brain injury in children and adolescents.
Founded by the Brain Injury Association of SC, the SC Brain Injury Safety Net Task Force is building a multi-disciplinary network that functions as a “safety net” for youth with mTBI who might not ordinarily have the support and care they need. This network of professionals, providers, and agencies ensures that every child has the best chance to access vital resources to ensure their optimal long-term functioning and brain health.
WHAT IS A CONCUSSION AND WHY IS CONCUSSION AWARENESS IMPORTANT?
According to the CDC Heads UP Program, a concussion is defined as a “type of traumatic brain injury—or TBI—caused by a bump, blow, or jolt to the head or by a hit to the body that causes the head and brain to move rapidly back and forth. This sudden movement can cause the brain to bounce around or twist in the skull, creating chemical changes in the brain and sometimes stretching and damaging brain cells.”
A vital part of Safety Net’s mission is to ensure concussion and mTBI is widely understood and prioritized among caregivers. Our understanding of concussion and its long-term effects has changed significantly over the years; the current school of thought as to the seriousness of not only mTBI but how it is managed is essential in safeguarding the children and adolescents in our community. It is essential to the health and safety of the most vulnerable in South Carolina that the significant impact of concussion to our youth is met with an equally significant response and awareness.
WHY SHOULD WE BE CONCERNED ABOUT CONCUSSION DURING COVID-19?
Concussions happen every day to children and youth in South Carolina, regardless of whether or not they’re in school, on the ball field, or working from the comfort of their home where homeschooling has become the new norm. Just because kids are not in school in-person right now doesn't mean they're not all at risk: kids are still at risk of concussion during COVID-19 outside of the classroom.
● While many students sustain sports-related concussions, a high number of concussions occur as a result of playground, bicycle, and car accidents, and other activities unrelated to sports.
● According to the CDC Heads UP Program, 50% of brain injuries among kids are due to falls.
Awareness is key in the care and management of mTBI; if you know or work with any of the following caregivers, please consider sharing this blog post and asking them to join us in our shared mission:
● parents
● educators
● counselors
● school nurses
● athletic trainers
● medical providers
● religious instructors
● caregivers of children
● school administrators
… and any professionals working with youth
Anyone interested in joining our mailing list is encouraged to sign-up at: https://www.braininjurysafetynetsc.com/contact.
Additional blog posts about our Brain Injury Safety Net videos and other resources coming next, so subscribe! Thanks for visiting!
-Katie and Rachel