Newswise — Every 49 minutes, a person in the U.S. is paralyzed from a spinal cord injury. To help prevent the estimated 11,000 new spinal cord injuries that will occur in America this year, Loyola University Health System, Maywood, Ill., is launching a public service campaign, "B 4 U"¦â„¢," which calls attention to the problem and offers guidelines on reducing injury risk.
More than 250,000 people in America have a spinal cord injury.
"Teens and people in their 20s are especially at risk," said Dr. Thomas Origitano, professor of Neurological Surgery, Loyola University Chicago Stritch School of Medicine, and chair of the Department of Neurological Surgery, Loyola University Health System. "It is a life-changing event."
According to the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC), the majority of spinal cord injuries result from motor vehicle crashes, violence, falls and sports. Each year, spinal cord injuries cost the U.S. $9.7 billion. Spinal cord injuries increase in the summer.
"Now that school is out and summer has begun, more drivers will be on the road," said Dr. Russ P. Nockels, associate professor and vice chair, Department of Neurological Surgery, Loyola University Chicago Stritch School of Medicine, Maywood, Ill. "People will be outdoors skating, diving and biking. Children will be flocking to playgrounds or playing their favorite sports.
"All these activities have the potential for spinal cord injury," said Nockels, chief of the Division of Neurological Spinal Disorder and director of the Spinal Cord Injury Repair Laboratory, Loyola University Health System, Maywood, Ill. "But many spinal cord injuries can be prevented."
"Always wear a helmet and protective gear when you bicycle, skateboard or in-line skate," said Nockels. "Fasten your safety belt each time you travel in a motor vehicle, even for short trips.
"Exercise caution around swimming pools and lakes," said Nockels. "Never dive into unknown water and never dive into water less than 9 feet deep. Enter unfamiliar water feet-first."
Loyola's B 4 U"¦â„¢ campaign is urging people to think ahead before they dive, bike, drive, skate or play. "The wrong decision made in a split-second can produce devastating, permanent results," said Origitano.
Youngsters participating in sports should follow the rules of the game, be in proper physical condition and wear the required protective gear.
Loyola's B 4 U"¦â„¢ campaign encourages parents to inspect their local playgrounds to make sure the facilities comply with U.S. Consumer Product Safety Commission (CPSC) guidelines for playground safety.
"Parents should keep their children away from any playground that has a cement or asphalt surface," said Nockels. "Even grass or turf underneath playground equipment poses severe injury risk if a child falls off the top of a slide or a climbing bar.
"Select a playground with a protective surface, such as 12-inches of double-shredded bark mulch or wood chips," said Nockels, noting the importance of adult supervision to reduce collisions and falls.
As medical doctors who treat the nervous system, brain, spine and skull, neurological surgeons see first-hand the results of head trauma, fractures and spinal cord injuries. For tips on how to reduce injury risk, visit http://www.luhs.org/b4u
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