Just Wear a Helmet
There are some ways to reduce the risk of a TBI, especially when riding a bike.
There aren’t always ways to prevent a brain injury. A car accident, for instance, can happen without warning. But there are ways to reduce the risk. Something as simple as protecting your head with a helmet can make a significant difference.
My family lives right by Tower Grove Park, and we love taking walks and attending events there. But I can’t count how many times I see people riding bikes through the park without helmets. I’m also saddened that it’s not mandatory to bring or pay for a helmet when renting a bike.
IT’S. YOUR. BRAIN.
A brain injury—even a severe one—can repair itself to some degree. In my own case, an MRI shows neuronal migration in the small region of my brain where my head was hit. However, the injury itself doesn’t change. What happened is over, and my brain won’t continue to change in relation to that specific injury.
But recovery from a brain injury—even if you ultimately live without a chronic illness or disability—is not easy. For me, the emotional effects can still linger. I often find myself self-sabotaging, asking questions that chip away at my confidence: Will I ever be good enough? A good enough friend, mother, partner, daughter, sister, writer, teacher?
Having a brain injury can be incredibly hard on your self-esteem. Healing isn’t just physical—it’s emotional. It can take a long time to rebuild it.
I recently came across an article in People about a teen who sustained a traumatic brain injury while riding a bike. Reading stories like that always hits close to home. After my own injury—before I had really processed how much that car accident had affected my life—I rode my bike around St. Louis without a helmet. Looking back, I cringe at that decision.
Helmets can help in many situations, but bicycling is one of the most obvious. According to the National Institutes of Health,
Bicycle helmets reduce the risk of head, brain, and severe brain injuries by 63% to 88%. One study even concluded that 85% of all serious head injuries from bike falls could have been prevented by wearing a helmet.
It’s such a simple step: wear a helmet.
Yes, they aren’t fashionable. I know I don’t look great wearing one—or any type of hat, for that matter. But something so simple can truly save your life.
As a survivor of a traumatic brain injury, I worry about my daughter experiencing one herself. I worry enough that I even bought her a helmet to wear while she plays. I plan to talk to our pediatrician about whether this is truly helpful. I’ve read that it can sometimes give children a false sense of safety when falling, which may affect how they learn to control their bodies.
Still, it’s hard not to worry when you’ve experienced a brain injury yourself.
My last post this month will take a closer look at some statistics surrounding brain injury—common causes, prevention strategies, and more.
See you soon.
-Kathleen