WHEREAS, traumatic brain injury (TBI) and acquired brain injury are leading causes of injury-related death and disability in the United States and in Michigan; and,
WHEREAS, brain injuries may potentially affect cognitive function, motor function, sensation, and emotional function; and,
WHEREAS, on average, there were 176 fatalities per day in 2020 in the U.S. from injuries that included TBI; and,
WHEREAS, there were 1,937 TBI-related fatalities in Michigan in 2022; and 74% of these were male; and,
WHEREAS, there were 9,137 hospitalizations for TBIs in 2022 in Michigan; and,
WHEREAS, the total annual health care cost of nonfatal TBIs in the U.S. was more than $40.6 billion in 2016; and,
WHEREAS, falls are the leading known cause of TBI (43%) in the U.S., and cause nearly half (47%) of all TBIs among children aged 0 to 14 years, and 78% of all TBIs among adults aged 65 and older; and,
WHEREAS, other leading and preventable causes of TBI include being struck by or against an object or person, motor vehicle crashes, suicide, substance misuse and assaults, including shaken baby or abusive head trauma; and,
WHEREAS, observable signs of TBI may include, but are not limited to, appearing dazed or stunned, forgetting an instruction, moving clumsily, answering questions slowly, losing consciousness (even briefly), showing mood, behavior or personality changes, being unable to recall events prior to and/or after an injury event; and,
WHEREAS, prevention strategies can greatly reduce the risk for TBIs and death; these include removing hazards in and around the home; keeping sports safe with adherence to rules of play and use of protective gear including helmets; using extra caution in bad weather while walking and driving; driving unimpaired and without distraction and always using a seat belt; keeping firearms and ammunition safely locked away; staying physically active, among many others; and,
WHEREAS, TBIs are a largely preventable community health problem; and,
WHEREAS, the Michigan Department of Health and Human Services will continue to collect data to monitor incidents of traumatic and acquired brain injury and related deaths and work with partners like the Brain Injury Association of Michigan to raise awareness to support people with brain injuries and their families, and share information about injury-prevention strategies;
NOW, THEREFORE, I, Gretchen Whitmer, governor of Michigan, do hereby proclaim March 2024 as Brain Injury Awareness Month in Michigan and call upon our citizens and interested groups to observe the month with appropriate activities that promote awareness and prevention of brain injuries.
