HR 7: Brain Injury Awareness Month

• Proclaims March 2021 as Brain Injury Awareness Month in Alaska and encourages residents to promote public awareness of brain injury effects and prevention

• Defines traumatic brain injury as a disruption in normal brain function caused by a bump, blow, jolt to the head, or penetrating head injury, per the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention

• Notes that 3.2 to 5.3 million Americans live with long-term disabilities from traumatic brain injuries, approximately 137 people die daily from brain injury-related injuries, and over 339,462 service members have sustained traumatic brain injuries since 2000

• Identifies common causes of traumatic brain injuries as motor vehicle accidents, falls, assaults, domestic violence, and sports and occupational injuries, which are largely preventable

• Emphasizes that access to education, assessment, support, and care can improve quality of life for brain injury survivors and enable their return to home, school, workplace, and community while reducing overall care costs