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Press Release

PRESS RELEASE Brain Injury Association of Minnesota 34 13th Avenue, Northeast Suite B001 Minneapolis, MN 55413 Pat Marciniak Public Awareness Director

Governor Pawlenty Proclaims March "Brain Injury Awareness Month"
In conjunction with Brain Injury Awareness Month, Brain Injury Association of Minnesota advises the public on the common causes of brain injury to aide in prevention

(MINNEAPOLIS - March 6, 2008) – To raise awareness about the silent health epidemic of brain injury and to support the estimated 100,000 Minnesotans living with a disability as a result of brain injury, Governor Tim Pawlenty has proclaimed March as "Brain Injury Awareness Month" in Minnesota. In conjunction with this proclamation, the Brain Injury Association of Minnesota is releasing a list of the common C.A.U.S.E.S. of brain injury to help educate the public about prevention and bring awareness to this silent epidemic.

Common C.A.U.S.E.S. of Brain Injury:

Car Crashes

Aneurysms

Unintentional Falls

Sports and Recreation-Related Concussions, Strokes

Events of Assault/Violence, Blasts for active military in war zones

Shaken Baby Syndrome (SBS)/inflicted Traumatic Brain Injury

"Many believe that brain injury can never happen to them because they aren't aware that the common causes are often part of daily life," notes Ardis Sandstrom, executive director, Brain Injury Association of Minnesota. "The only cure for brain injury is prevention, so it's important for people to know the common causes and take the necessary preventative steps."

Every 21 seconds someone in the United States will sustain a traumatic brain injury equal to 1.5 million people. That's more than six times the combined annual incidence of breast cancer, HIV/AIDS and multiple sclerosis. But despite the high incidence, brain injury is largely unknown.

Preventing brain injury can be as simple as wearing a helmet during sports and recreational activities, buckling up everyone in the car, wearing non-slip shoes, removing yourself from potentially violent situations, and never shaking a child.

Prevention is crucial, as brain injury does not discriminate. Brain injury can happen to anyone, anywhere, at anytime and can cause a wide range of life-changing issues. Physical, thinking and emotional changes from a brain injury can occur immediately after an injury; however, it can also take months and years for the symptoms to appear. A brain injury can cause any combination of symptoms, including: frequent headaches, extreme fatigue, short-term memory loss, problem-solving difficulty, mood swings and ringing in the ears.

For more information about brain injury causes, symptoms and prevention, visit www.braininjurymn.org or call the Brain Injury Association of Minnesota's Brain Injury Help Line at 800-669-6442.

About the Brain Injury Association of Minnesota
Celebrating 24 years of service, the Brain Injury Association of Minnesota is the only statewide nonprofit organization dedicated to serving the 100,000 Minnesotans who live with a disability due to brain injury, their loved ones and the professionals who work with them. The Brain Injury Association of Minnesota has programs and services designed to enhance the quality of life and bring the promise of a better tomorrow for all persons affected by brain injury. For more information, please visit www.braininjurymn.org or call 800-669-6442.

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