Traumatic Brain Injury (TBI) is a serious public health problem in the United States. Each year, traumatic brain injuries contribute to a substantial number of deaths and cases of permanent disability. Recent data shows that, on average, approximately 1.7 million people sustain a traumatic brain injury annually.

A TBI is caused by a bump, blow or jolt to the head or a penetrating head injury that disrupts the normal function of the brain. Not all blows or jolts to the head result in a TBI. The severity of a TBI may range from “mild,” i.e., a brief change in mental status or consciousness to “severe,” i.e., an extended period of unconsciousness or amnesia after the injury. The majority of TBIs that occur each year are concussions or other forms of mild TBI.

CDC’s research and programs work to prevent TBI and help people better recognize, respond, and recover if a TBI occurs.” The statistics are alarming but more importantly is the overall lack of public awareness onto how serious a problem this is. First and foremost we all need to educate ourselves about TBI and the other complex issues veterans face. Only then can we truly begin to mitigate the long-term costs of providing medical and disability care for our veterans. Presently, as mandated by the National Defense Authorization Act (2010) there is a 14-member Task Force examining the effectiveness of the Department of Defenses’s wounded warrior policies and programs. The Task Force is comprised of 7 DOD members and 7 non-DOD members will make recommendations at the conclusion of its inquiry.

To learn more also read TBI- A National Calamity. If you have a different opinion please post it here or send me an email at askthewarrant@thefrontlines.com. Thank you.

Very respectfully,

The Warrant

References

Military Officer Magazine (2011). March 20, 2011, www.moaa.org.

Center for Disease Control and Prevention (2011). Retrieved from http://www.cdc.gov/traumaticbraininjury/tbi_ed.html