Prevention of traumatic brain injuries

Many head injuries are preventable. The Centers for Disease Control and Prevention have the following safety tips for reducing the risk of suffering a TBI:

Wear a seatbelt every time you drive or ride in a car.
Buckle your child into a child safety seat, booster seat, or seatbelt (depending on the child's age) every time the child rides in a car.
Wear a helmet and make sure your children wear helmets when

riding a bike or motorcycle;
playing a contact sport such as football or ice hockey;
using in-line skates or riding a skateboard;
batting and running bases in baseball or softball;
riding a horse;
skiing or snowboarding.

Keep firearms and bullets stored in a locked cabinet when not in use.
Avoid falls by

using a step-stool with a grab bar to reach objects on high shelves;
installing handrails on stairways;
installing window guards to keep young children from falling out of open windows;
using safety gates at the top and bottom of stairs when young children are around.

Make sure the surface on your child's playground is made of shock-absorbing material (e.g., hardwood mulch, sand).

A systematic review of factors contributing to outcomes in patients with traumatic brain injury.