Winter sports participation reaches its peak in January, which is also recognized as National Winter Sports TBI Awareness Month. Whether you head into colder climates to enjoy outdoor skiing or snowboarding, or you head indoors for ice skating and hockey, winter sports offer great fun and exercise in the next coming months.
Experienced Texas brain injury lawyers know that the chances of a traumatic brain injury (TBI) increase when winter sports participants don’t have the proper safety equipment or aren’t given the safety information they need. The consequences of a traumatic brain injury can be severe. Even a mild concussion caused by a light blow to the head can cause problems with mood, concentration, thought, and memory. A severe concussion can cause permanent problems with movement and cognition – or even, in the worst cases, death.
Luckily, there are steps you can take to reduce your risk of a severe TBI while still allowing yourself to enjoy all the excitement winter sports have to offer. Here are a few tips:
- Use the correct safety equipment, and make sure it fits properly. Helmets approved for the sport you’re participating in can help reduce the damage if you do suffer a blow to the head.
- Learn about a new activity before you try it. “Beginner” lessons in skiing, snowboarding, and skating can help you learn to turn, stop, and fall more safely, reducing the risk that you’ll injure yourself or anyone else.
- If you suspect that you or someone else has suffered a head injury, remove the person from the sport immediately and contact a doctor. Do not return to any sport until a doctor has given clearance.