It is now the season of winter, which for many states across the continental USA means a lot of snow, ice, and blizzards. Historically, it is also during this cold season that a lot of personal injuries occur, more than any other season. A person is at risk for injury during the wintertime even while doing very simple activities, thanks to the slippery ice. Injuries to different parts of the body such as your head, back, arms, legs, and neck are not uncommon during this time. As such, it is important to keep in mind helpful tips and advices in order to prevent injuries as much as possible.
Regularly salt driveways, stairs, and walkways around your home. By doing so, you are lessening the possibility of slipping on the ice, although you still need to be careful as you are walking around.
Make sure to have the proper footing when shoveling snow. When doing heavier work like shoveling snow from the driveway, make sure to wear the appropriate shoes and make sure that your footing is secure before attempting to dig into the snow. It is also advisable to stretch before actually shoveling as this can be considered strenuous work.
Walk carefully. Needless to say, you need to be walking around carefully and not rush into anything, especially on noted slippery spots. It is also advisable to hold on to your young children and keep a close eye on them.
Install winter tires on your vehicles. For those in cities that experience a lot of snowfall, it is important to install winter-grade tires to avoid the chance of losing control while driving, due to the slippery, icy roads. These tires are specifically designed for the wintertime and it is a wise decision to invest on them and install them as soon as the snow arrives.
Always have your mobile phone with you, especially when driving. Accidents can happen due to the snowy conditions and icy roads, so it might require you to call emergency services, a tow truck, or your family members. If there is one time to not forget bringing your mobile phone along, it is during winter.
Never drink and drive. This is a tip not limited to the winter season, as it should be followed all year round. However, driving while under the influence of alcohol in hazardous road conditions such as those presented in a winter evening can be very dangerous, and very much deadly. Due to the holiday season, a lot of people drive drunk which is why the winter is the most dangerous season in terms of deaths and personal injuries due to driving.
Since the winter and holiday seasons present a lot more accidents than normal, a lot more personal injuries and fatalities occur. “Over 116,000 Americans are injured and over 1,300 killed due to the icy road conditions we experience every winter,” according to Curtis Quay, a San Diego personal injury lawyer.
In some instances, it would be wise to seek legal advice when injuries happen to you, especially if it is related to driving. If you were injured due to the negligence of the government in clearing ice from the roads and sidewalks, then you may also be entitled to compensation, for medical expenses among other things.
However, It is best to avoid injuries by following the tips stated above and taking the necessary precautions in order to be safe during the winter season. By doing these and even more, you lessen your chances of getting hurt.
Spinal cord trauma can result in injuries which are particularly difficult to treat and often very panful. The spinal cord is one of the most vital organs in your body as it is responsible for the communication between the brain and the rest of your body. This miraculous organ is simply a long and thin bundle of tubular nerves filled with support cells, also known as stem cells. The combination of your brain and the spinal cord are known as the central nervous system which allows you to move around, speak, and feel your sense of touch. Without your spinal cord, there would be no connection between your brain and the rest of the nervous system, and depending on the location of the spinal injury you may never be able to feel the lower part of the trauma site again. This of course greatly depends on the treatment and recovery process after the injury has taken place as well as the amount of attention that is paid to the doctor’s specific instructions.
Trauma Occurrences and Stages
Injury or trauma to the spinal cord can happen at any moment and during just about any activity. Vehicle accidents are frequently the culprit with whiplash injuries to the spinal cord in the neck the result. Even more serious spinal cord damage can be caused in accidents often associated with SUVs. One of the most frequent causes of this kind of injury is the regrettably common event of a SUV rollover in an accident. These accidents will always end with an injured person being taken to the closest hospital or center that is equipped and ready to deal with spinal trauma. This is because the faster the person gets treated, the better their chances of recovering with as little impairment as possible, and as the chances of spinal damages are greater in these cases the faster treatment is available, the better.
There are two stages to spinal cord trauma, the first stage is considered the acute phase which is when the person first gets the spinal injury and the following few days of treatment. The second phase of spinal cord trauma is the rehabilitation phase which is when the injuries and other necessary information is explained to the injured person, assistance is provided with various everyday activities, and the injured begins to learn their new lifestyle as well as learn to become independent once more. Spinal trauma doesn’t only effect the physical aspects of the person though, it can also affect their mental health and stability as they feel as though their freedom was ripped away from them in a single flash of time.
The Acute Phase
Once the injured party has been taken to the closest and most equipped center in the area for spinal cord injuries, they will be given painkillers while they are being examined and treated. Inevitably, spinal cord injuries can result in moderate to severe pain requiring, at least in the short term, serious pain medication such as codeine, morphine, or modern synthetic versions of these opioid medications. The doctor’s examination and testing will enable them find any and all broken bones, brain and spinal trauma as well as bruising, and the painkillers should provide you with some comfort at least while this is going on.
The Rehabilitation Phase
This is one of the most important parts of spinal cord trauma treatment, the recovery process. Recovery from this kind of injury can take a long time as the person isn’t only physically injured, but often emotionally and psychologically as well, especially if they face the prospect of living with permanent damage or loss of functionality. The first part of this treatment phase is helping the patient understand not only his or her injuries, but the details of their car, and the changes that their life has now taken on. This can also prepare them for the act of rehabilitation to learn to not only care for themselves but possible regain movement. This will all greatly depend on the location of the injury as well as the care that is not only given to the patient, but that the patient provides themselves. There is always hope when it comes to spinal damage, even though it is slim and the thought of sustaining an injury as severe as this can be earth shattering to anyone involved or who knows the patient.
