The Hidden Risks of Summer: Understanding the Causes of Brain Injury

Summertime Blues: Causes of Brain Injury in The Warmer Months

Summertime is a popular time for injuries, especially those to the head. The causes of brain injury are at a high risk around this time because of the fun summer activities we enjoy here in Canada.

You don’t need to sacrifice your summer fun in the name of avoiding injury. In fact, no one can predict an accident, so you shouldn’t have to have less fun.

However, it is important to make sure you understand what type of safety precautions you could be taking to ensure that your risk of suffering a brain injury is lower.

These are the most common causes of brain injury in the summertime. Make sure you’re aware of the risks, and that you know what to do if you or someone you know is suffering.

 

Middle aged woman coping with brain injury. Traumatic brain injury signs and symptoms.
Brain injury can happen to anyone, at any time, and you can’t predict when it’ll happen.

Why is the Risk of Brain Injury Higher in the Summer?

According to the Pittsburgh Post-Gazette, summertime in the emergency rooms is known as “trauma season.” During the warmer weather, medical experts in North America say that traumatic injuries double among children and adults.

In the summer, we’re much more active. The nicer weather motivates us to get up and go outside.

During the warmer weather, we have tons of new opportunities to spend time outside and being out and about. From festivals and family barbecues to outdoor movies in the park, there is always something going on, whether you live in the GTA or outside of it.

Brain injury is the leading cause of death or disability for Canadians under 40. With the higher risk during the summer, it’s more important now than ever to be aware of the causes, signs, and symptoms of brain injury.

 

Child playing in the beach. Sometimes swimming causes brain injury if rules are not followed.
It’s important to embrace the outdoors when the weather is nice, but safety is a priority.

Narrowing Down the Summertime Causes of Brain Injury

Outdoor activities put you at risk, such as riding your bike, rollerblading, or skateboarding. That’s because your chances of falling or colliding with something are higher.

Summertime sports, like football, ball hockey, baseball, and soccer, lead to sports injuries from falling, colliding, or equipment malfunctions.

Other warm weather activities that put you or your kids at risk include ATVing, swimming, trampoline use, playing on a playground, or even just running around in the backyard in bare feet.

A common cause of head injury in children is playing summer sports or going to summer sports camps where they are active throughout the day.

For example, football head injuries from training camps are a big risk for concussion.

We’re not just talking about a bump on the head. Internal brain injuries, whether they occur in adults or children, can cause bleeding and bruising that can permanently damage the tissues.

 

Woman suffering from heatstroke. Pat attention to summer safety to prevent brain injury.
When you spend too much time in the sun you are at risk for heatstroke, heat exhaustion, heat cramps, or a bad sunburn.

Heatstroke: A Silent Summer Suspect

It isn’t just physical injuries that can cause brain injury in the summertime.

Did you know that heatstroke and other serious heat-related illnesses can also lead to brain damage and brain injury?

Heatstroke usually occurs if your body temperature rises to more than 40 degrees celsius. It’s most commonly triggered by prolonged exposure in the heat or doing a lot of physical activity in extreme heat.

Other issues that could happen due to the high temperature include heat cramps, heat exhaustion, and dehydration.

Watch out for heat-related conditions if you or your child is playing a sport outside on a really hot day, or during a heatwave.

 

Man with headache. Watch out for these common signs and symptoms of brain injury.
These signs of brain injury will help determine if you or someone you know has one.

Signs and Symptoms You Should be on The Lookout For

If your child is playing summer sports, make sure you’re aware of the signs of concussion, head injury, or brain injury. All of these conditions could develop into traumatic brain injury.

Look out for these symptoms of brain injury:

  • Headache
  • Dizziness
  • Neck stiffness or pain
  • Confusion
  • Altered sense of smell
  • Numbness in fingers or toes
  • Blurred vision
  • Abnormal sleeping patterns (either too much or too little sleep)

Symptoms of heatstroke include altered mood or behaviour, high body temperature, vomiting or nausea, rapid breathing or heart rate, headache, or flushed skin.

If left untreated, brain injuries and concussions can lead to permanent brain damage and long-term disability.

 

Little girl riding bike with helmet. Bike safety can prevent brain injury.
Wearing a bike helmet is one way you can help yourself and your children prevent risk of brain injury.

Safety is Your Best Defence

Physical activity and playing outside is extremely important for all children, and even most adults. You don’t need to avoid them; instead, get educated on safety.

Following the right safety precautions for any activity you participate in is one of the most effective ways you can prevent brain injury.

For example, it’s not illegal to ride a bike without a helmet if you’re over 17, but you should wear one anyway. You should also double-check your bicycles to make sure all of the parts are in working order, especially the brakes.

Obey all of the safety signs if you’re visiting a public place, such as a hiking trail or a public pool. 5 percent of all spinal cord injuries are from swimming pool accidents.

If you’re not comfortable with your swimming skills, always make sure there’s a lifeguard where you choose to swim.

 

Little girl holding head in pain. Help prevent head injury in children.
Summer injuries can be dangerous for children.

What to do if You or Your Child Are Injured

When you’re playing a sport, or doing any physical exercise, it’s important not to ignore the first signs of injury. It’s hard when athletes are taught to toughen up and play though their injuries, especially at training camps, but ignoring these signs could make the damage worse.

One concussion, as minor as it may seem, could do a lot of harm in the future.

If the injury happened because someone else was negligent, you could be entitled to seek compensation in a personal injury claim.

Make sure you seek medical attention as soon as possible, collect all of the evidence you can, and meet with a personal injury lawyer right away.

 

Judge holding the scales of justice. Contact Toronto personal injury lawyers Conte Jaswal today.

Conte Jaswal Will Help You Make a Brain Injury Settlement

Sometimes accidents are accidents, and no one’s really to blame. However, sometimes that isn’t the case and accidents happen because someone else is at fault.

When it’s time to hold someone liable for their mistakes, Conte Jaswal will step into action for you.

We fight for you. Our passion comes from our empathy for your situation and our desire to seek justice whenever we can. We won’t stop until we get you the best settlement possible, and the compensation you need to carry on with your life.

Contact Conte Jaswal now to book a free consultation and get started on your brain injury recovery process.

Experienced personal injury lawyers in the GTA. Contact Conte Jaswal now.

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