Every five minutes one person will die and another will become permanently disabled because of a brain injury. Traumatic brain injury causes 20 times more disabilities than AIDS, breast cancer, spinal cord injuries, and multiple sclerosis combined. Over one million children will require hospitalization following a traumatic brain injury, while one in 10 will live with moderate to severe impairments.Like the spinal cord, your brain does not repair itself. Any damage to the brain is likely to have lasting effects. Helmets, safety belts, air bags, and car seats decrease the risk of brain injury and death. Simply wearing a bicycle helmet can reduce such traumatic brain injuries by 85 percent.
Approximately 5.3 million Americans are disabled as a result of a brain injury. The average patient will pay approximately $4 million to support ongoing medical care and related services during their lifetime. And 61 percent of survivors will suffer from neurophysical disabilities such as seizures, loss of balance, speech impairments, and headaches.
http://www.desmoinesregister.com/apps/pbcs.dll/article?AID=/20070727/NEWS/707270304
