Congratulations to the winners of FVBIA’s Brain Injury Awareness Month contest! Thank you for entering.
A look at how brain injury affects the whole family – for ages 11 and up
The Road Ahead: Next Exit Hope! For ages 11 and up Acquired brain injury affects the whole family. Families have so many questions and often feel like there are no answers. Brain injury can be unpredictable and challenging, so learning as much as you can is really important. This book doesn’t have all the answers … Read more
Information about brain injury and FVBIA services
Fraser Valley Brain Injury Association’s Executive Director, Carol Paetkau presents on brain injury and FVBIA’s services to ConnecTra viewers. https://fb.watch/8Jy23drZ1-/
Young at Arts Summer Program
We still have spaces in our Young at Arts Summer Program for children with acquired brain injuries, siblings or children who have a parent with an acquired brain injury. Activities include virtual art sessions with local artist John LeFlock and virtual education sessions with a teacher throughout the summer, activity hampers and an in-person day … Read more
A look at how brain injury affects the whole family – for ages 5 to 10
The Road Ahead: Next Exit Hope! for ages 5 to 10 When someone we love has an acquired brain injury, it is the beginning of a new chapter in a family’s life. Brain injury affects the whole family. There are many questions and not enough answers. This material in this book is geared towards children … Read more
“I learned to love and accept the new simplified me”
The year before my accident, mom was in hospital with a suspected heart attack. I was caring for a rebellious teenage daughter, mom, a two-acre property with horses and animals, plus my professional speaking and writing business, with two books on their way to be published in the USA in spring, 2005. I then had to deal with all this and a serious contra-coupe traumatic brain injury.
Getting Back to Normal
When can normal activity resume? This will depend on the seriousness of the injury. Be sure to wait until all symptoms are gone. After a mild concussion, some people can resume normal activity almost immediately. Ask a doctor how long to wait after symptoms are gone. POTENTIAL DEFICITS Physical Impairments Physical Impairments Speech, vision and … Read more
Preventing Brain Injuries
Most injuries can be prevented by sitting quietly at home – but people don’t want to live their lives that way. But a few simple steps can drastically reduce the risk: Don’t drink and drive. Wear a helmet when biking, inline skating or snowboarding. Wear a seat belt in the car and make sure children … Read more
What to do in Case of a Head Injury
Many mild concussions don’t require more than rest and monitoring. Someone else should watch for signs of more serious injury, though. Sometimes the symptoms of a serious concussion, a contusion or hematoma may not show up for days. Monitor when the patient does not appear to have any signs of serious injury. Make sure the … Read more
Symptoms of a Brain Injury
Symptoms can range from none to mild pain at the site of the injury, bleeding or lack of consciousness. Indications that the injury needs medical attention include: Loss of consciousness. Continued headaches, and headaches that get worse. Nausea and vomiting, particularly in adults. Seizures. Confusion. Loss of memory of events surrounding injury. Drowsiness or lack … Read more
Types of Traumatic Brain Injuries (TBI)
The four main types of head injuries are: Concussion: a mild brain injury that is usually temporary. Contusion: a bruise on the brain. Fracture: broken skull bones. Hematoma: a blood clot caused by a blow to the brain. The head and brain can be injured whether or not the skull is actually damaged. A hard … Read more
Common Causes of Brain Injury
Car accidents are a major cause of serious head injury. Other causes are falls, sports and assaults. You don’t have to be hit on the top of the head – a blow to the jaw or side of the head can also cause a brain injury. People who have had previous head injuries are believed … Read more
What is Acquired Brain Injury (ABI)?
The World Health Organization (WHO) defines Acquired Brain Injury as an injury to the brain which is not hereditary, congenital or degenerative. Some of the causes of brain injury include a blow to the head, whiplash injuries, seizure disorders, tumors or anoxic/hypoxic events (cardiopulmonary arrest, carbon monoxide poisoning, airway obstruction) infectious diseases and toxic exposure … Read more