Traumatic brain injury

Mayo Clinic Health Manager

Get free personalized health guidance for you and your family.

Get Started

Free

E-Newsletter

Subscribe to receive the latest updates on health topics. About our newsletters

  • Housecall
  • Alzheimer's caregiving
  • Living with cancer

Prevention

By Mayo Clinic staff

Follow these tips to reduce the risk of brain injury:

  • Always wear a seat belt in a motor vehicle. Small children should be secured in child safety seats or booster seats. Depending on their size, older children may be adequately restrained with seat belts.
  • Never drive under the influence of drugs or alcohol.
  • Store firearms, unloaded, in a locked cabinet or safe. Store bullets in a separate location.
  • Wear a helmet while riding a bicycle, skateboard, motorcycle, snowmobile or all-terrain vehicle. Also wear head protection when you bat or run bases, ski, skate, ride a horse, or play a contact sport.
  • Avoid falls by installing safety features in your home — such as handrails on stairways, nonslip mats in the bathtub and grab bars in the bathroom. An exercise program can improve your strength, balance and coordination. Regular vision tests also can help lower the risk of falling.

DS00552

Sept. 19, 2008

© 1998-2009 Mayo Foundation for Medical Education and Research (MFMER). All rights reserved. A single copy of these materials may be reprinted for noncommercial personal use only. "Mayo," "Mayo Clinic," "MayoClinic.com," "EmbodyHealth," "Reliable tools for healthier lives," "Enhance your life," and the triple-shield Mayo Clinic logo are trademarks of Mayo Foundation for Medical Education and Research.

Print Share Reprints

Text Size: smaller largerlarger