Special Program Planned To Discuss Brain Injuries
CHICAGO (WBBM) -- Major concern has erupted in the last couple of years about the growing incidences of brain injuries to young people, especially while playing sports.
On Saturday, a special program is planned at the Irish-American Heritage Center, 4626 N. Knox Ave., on the impact brain injuries to young people have on families -- both sports and non-sports related injuries. Two families with children who've suffered brain injuries -- sports and non-sports related -- will give presentations.
LISTEN: Newsradio 780's Bernie Tafoya reports
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Patrick Donahue of the Sarah Jane Brain Foundation says more than 765,000 young people visit emergency rooms every year with brain injuries. Of those, 11,000, he says.
"Stats show that upwards of 80 percent of kids in the juvenile detention system have some form of brain injury. Think about having an H1N1 virus twice a year, and the kids that survived are going to prisons," Donahue said. "It's literally a public health crisis."
Just this week, the Illinois House passed a measure to put more safeguards from concussions for young people who play school sports. The bill has moved on to the Illinois Senate.
Patrick Donahue says the federal government needs to spend more money towards research on the best system of care for brain injured children.
The program at the Irish-American Heritage Center starts at 10:30 a.m. and is open to the public.
