Fact of the Day
Brain Injury Fact of the Day
Sponsored by the Missouri AgrAbility Project
Cultivating Solutions for Farmers with Disabilities
people died from brain injury and 223,000 people were hospitalized for brain injury. Every year about 2.2 million individuals with brain injury are treated in the emergency department and released.
Disabilities resulting from brain injury depend on the location of the injury, severity of the injury and the age and health of the person injured. Learn more.
The brain is responsible for everything we do – it controls movements, sensations, speech, thoughts, and emotions. The effects of brain injury fall within four areas – cognitive functioning, physical abilities, perceptions, and psychological health. Every brain injury is different. Learn More.
Preventing a concussion, recognizing symptoms, seeking medical evaluation, and following concussion guidelines are all vital for recovery. These actions also help reduce the risks of long-term effects for the person injured. Learn More.
Information, support and education are vital as individuals transition to life with brain injury. The Brain Injury Association of Missouri services provide help and hope for individuals and families living with brain injury. Learn More.
Farmers and Ranchers affected by brain injury may find Missouri AgrAbility a helpful resource to be successful in production agriculture. Learn More.
For more information, contact the Brain Injury Association of Missouri
for support, education, recreation and advocacy at
www.biamo.org or (800) 444-6443.
#MoreThanMyBrainInjury @MOAgrAbility @ShowMeStrongFarmFamilies @HeroestoHivesMO @MOBeginningFarmers
With falls being the leading cause of brain injury among individuals 65 years and older, farmers are at high risk of sustaining a brain injury. Balance, vision, memory, fatigue, problem solving ability, and more may be affected. If there are no visible signs of an injury, such as a fall, a brain injury may go untreated.
About 2.06 million Missourians live in rural counties. Of these individuals, about 400,000 are 65 years of age or older. Falls had the highest death rates of unintentional injuries for individuals 65 and older in rural and urban communities of Missouri. Learn More.
Older adults are at high risk of a brain injury from a fall. Prevention is the best cure for brain injury. Ways to reduce the risk of falls in the home is to put a nonslip mat in the bathroom or shower, remove area rugs, remove clutter in halls and walkways, and improve inside and outside lighting. Learn more.
Individuals with traumatic brain injury (TBI) commonly report problems with balance. When you have poor balance, you have a high risk of falling and sustaining another brain injury. A person’s ability to balance after a brain injury depends on many factors:
- The severity of the brain injury
- Parts of the brain that were injured.
- Other injuries sustained along with the brain injury.
- Use of medications to manage medical conditions connected with the traumatic event or accident.
The purpose of Missouri AgrAbility is to help increase the likelihood that farmers, ranchers, farm workers, and farm family members who are limited by disability or chronic health condition and are employed in production agriculture or agriculture-related occupations become more successful. Learn more.
For more information, contact the Brain Injury Association of Missouri
for support, education, recreation and advocacy at
www.biamo.org or (800) 444-6443.
#MoreThanMyBrainInjury @MOAgrAbility @ShowMeStrongFarmFamilies @HeroestoHivesMO @MOBeginningFarmers
It is estimate that as many as 3.8 million traumatic brain injuries occur in the U.S. each year. Of these, there is an average of 283,000 emergency department visits by youth from sports and recreational activities. However, as many as 50 percent of concussions may go unreported. Signs of a concussion include dizziness, blurred vision, slurred words, appearing dazed, walking or running off balance, headache, or a change in sleep patterns – just to name a few.
Youth and young adults are at high risk of concussions from sports, recreational activities and motor vehicle crashes. In rural Missouri, these individuals are our future farmers.
Of the estimated 3.8 million traumatic brain injuries in the United States each year, more than 21 percent are among children and adolescents during sports and recreational activities. A youth who sustains a concussion is three to six times more likely to sustain another concussion. Learn More.
In 2020, 6.8 percent of youth reported having symptoms of a concussion or brain injury at some point. However, for the same age group, only 3.9 percent of youth had ever received a diagnosis of a concussion or brain injury by a health care provider. Learn More.
Of the 283,000 U.S. emergency department visits among youth for sports and recreation-related concussions, 45 percent were from contact sports. Learn More.
Physical and cognitive rest are needed for recovery from a concussion. However, complete inactivity is no longer recommended. Some light activity and school participation, after a day or two, is beneficial for the individual during concussion recovery. Learn More.
The Missouri Beginning Farmers and Ranchers Program provides a blended experience for farmers with 10 years or less of farming experience to learn, connect and grow. Learn More.
For more information, contact the Brain Injury Association of Missouri
for support, education, recreation and advocacy at
www.biamo.org or (800) 444-6443.
#ConcussionAwarenessNow @MOAgrAbility @ShowMeStrongFarmFamilies @HeroestoHivesMO @MOBeginningFarmers
Wearing an approved motorcycle helmet has shown to be effective safety equipment to prevent brain injuries and deaths for riders. In 2019 when the Missouri all-rider motorcycle helmet law was in effect only 10 percent of motorcyclist fatalities were not wearing a helmet. This increased to 52 percent in 2021 and 53 percent in 2022. The Missouri all-rider motorcycle helmet law was repealed in August 2020.
Helmet use among motorcyclists is higher in states that require helmets for all riders and passengers. Nationwide in states without an all-rider motorcycle helmet law, 57 percent of motorcyclists killed in 2020 were not wearing a helmet. This compares to 11 percent for states with universal helmet laws. Wearing an approved motorcycle helmet while riding is the most effective way to prevent a brain injury. Learn More.
Unfortunately, the Missouri all-rider motorcycle helmet law was repealed in August 2020. Motorcyclist fatalities of unhelmeted riders significantly increased from 11 individuals in 2019 to 76 in 2022. Learn More.
The National Highway Traffic Safety Administration (NHTSA) estimates more than $625 million was saved in comprehensive costs for Missouri in 2017 through helmet use by motorcyclists. Another $82 million could have been saved with 100 percent helmet use. This savings was when there were 121 motorcyclist fatalities with a 10 percent unhelmeted motorcyclist fatality rate. Learn More.
About 39 percent of motorcycle crashes occur in rural areas. Motorcyclists ages 55 and older comprised 27 percent of motorcyclists killed in 2020. Learn More.
Missouri AgrAbility is a resource for farmers and ranchers with disabilities to be successful in production agriculture. Learn More.
For more information, contact the Brain Injury Association of Missouri
for support, education, recreation and advocacy at
www.biamo.org or 800-444-6443.
#MoreThanMyBrainInjury @MOAgrAbility @ShowMeStrongFarmFamilies @HeroestoHivesMO @MOBeginningFarmers
Wearing an approved motorcycle helmet has shown to be effective safety equipment to prevent brain injuries and deaths for riders. In 2019 when the Missouri all-rider motorcycle helmet law was in effect only 10 percent of motorcyclist fatalities were not wearing a helmet. This increased to 52 percent in 2021 and 53 percent in 2022. The Missouri all-rider motorcycle helmet law was repealed in August 2020.
Helmet use among motorcyclists is higher in states that require helmets for all riders and passengers. Nationwide in states without an all-rider motorcycle helmet law, 57 percent of motorcyclists killed in 2020 were not wearing a helmet. This compares to 11 percent for states with universal helmet laws. Wearing an approved motorcycle helmet while riding is the most effective way to prevent a brain injury. Learn More.
Unfortunately, the Missouri all-rider motorcycle helmet law was repealed in August 2020. Motorcyclist fatalities of unhelmeted riders significantly increased from 11 individuals in 2019 to 76 in 2022. Learn More.
The National Highway Traffic Safety Administration (NHTSA) estimates more than $625 million was saved in comprehensive costs for Missouri in 2017 through helmet use by motorcyclists. Another $82 million could have been saved with 100 percent helmet use. This savings was when there were 121 motorcyclist fatalities with a 10 percent unhelmeted motorcyclist fatality rate. Learn More.
About 39 percent of motorcycle crashes occur in rural areas. Motorcyclists ages 55 and older comprised 27 percent of motorcyclists killed in 2020. Learn More.
Missouri AgrAbility is a resource for farmers and ranchers with disabilities to be successful in production agriculture. Learn More.
For more information, contact the Brain Injury Association of Missouri
for support, education, recreation and advocacy at
www.biamo.org or 800-444-6443.
#MoreThanMyBrainInjury @MOAgrAbility @ShowMeStrongFarmFamilies @HeroestoHivesMO @MOBeginningFarmers
Thank you Active Duty, National Guard and Reserve Military Personnel as well as Veterans for serving our country. Military personnel can experience a brain injury from combat connected events or civilian life activities such as a stroke, fall, car crash, or other incident. Combat connected activities, such as blast exposures may put them at an increased risk for sustaining a traumatic brain injury (TBI).
Service Members may sustain a brain injury during day-to-day activities, military trainings, or deployment maneuvers. Most traumatic brain injuries sustained by members of the U.S. Armed Forces are classified as mild traumatic brain injury (TBI), also referred to as a concussion. Learn More.
Regardless of the cause, service members who sustain a brain injury may experience changes in their thought processing, physical abilities, perceptions, or mental health. Learn More.
TBI is associated with an increased risk of mental health conditions for Military Active Duty, National Guard, Reserve Personnel and Veterans. This can include post-traumatic stress disorder (PTSD), anxiety and depression. Service members are encouraged to obtain professional mental health services for improved well-being. The Missouri Department of Mental Health (DMH) Behavioral Health Services Provider Map is a resource to locate professional services. Learn More.
The Heroes to Hives – Missouri State Chapter program is an opportunity for Veterans, veteran families and their dependents over the age of 18 to learn financial and personal wellbeing through FREE professional training and community development centered around beekeeping. Learn More.
For more information, contact the Brain Injury Association of Missouri
for support, education, recreation and advocacy at
www.biamo.org or (800) 444-6443.
#MoreThanMyBrainInjury @MOAgrAbility @ShowMeStrongFarmFamilies @HeroestoHivesMO @MOBeginningFarmers
2.87 million brain injury-related emergency department visits, hospitalizations, and deaths occurred in 2014. Leading causes continue to be falls, motor vehicle crashes, and being struck by or against an object.
According to the CDC, approximately 75 percent of nonfatal brain injury-related hospitalizations were from falls or motor vehicle crashes in 2018. Nationally, there were 223,050 nonfatal traumatic brain injuries hospitalizations in 2018. Learn More.
Individuals 75 years and older account for 70,445 (31 percent) of non-fatal traumatic brain injury (TBI) related hospitalizations in 2018. This was approximately three times higher than individuals 65 – 74 years of age. Learn More.
Other causes of brain injury-related hospitalizations include being struck by or against an object, assault and self-harm. Nearly eight percent of brain injuries have an unknown or unspecified cause. Learn More.
Brain injury recovery is a new journey for many survivors and their families. Being aware of stages of recovery will help with understanding options. Download the BIA-MO Brain Injury Recovery Step by Step resource. Learn More.
Missouri AgrAbility can potentially help individuals with disabilities return to farming, ranching and agribusiness. With adaptive devices, technologies, changes in agriculture operations, and business planning, many individuals with brain injury safely return to farming and or ranching. Learn More.
For more information, contact the Brain Injury Association of Missouri
for support, education, recreation and advocacy at
www.biamo.org or (800) 444-6443.
#MoreThanMyBrainInjury @MOAgrAbility @ShowMeStrongFarmFamilies @HeroestoHivesMO @MOBeginningFarmers
Approximately 5.3 million Americans are living with a long-term disability resulting from brain injury. Each year another 80,000 to 90,000 individuals become permanently disabled from a brain injury. Symptoms of a brain injury can include limited mobility, short-term memory, inability to concentrate, poor balance, blurry or double vision, depression, and chronic pain.
As the cumulative result of past traumatic brain injuries, an estimated 5.3 million men, women, and children are living with a permanent traumatic brain injury-related disability in the United States. Learn More.
Examples of disabilities due to brain injury may include short term memory, depression, limited mobility, difficulty thinking, processing new information or problem solving, anxiety, visual impairments, and hearing loss. Education and support can help as you and your loved one adjust to life with brain injury. Learn More.
Since disabilities from brain injury are often not readily apparent to the others – unlike a broken leg, for example – brain injury is referred to as an invisible disability. However, permanent disabilities that may arise from cognitive, emotional, sensory, and motor impairments can alter a person’s goals as well as impact family and social relationships. Learn More.
Daily living and farm operations may need to be changed due to disability from brain injury. Help is available. Learn More – Missouri AgrAbility Project.
Attending a BIA-MO Support Group may help you and loved ones adjust to your new life with brain injury. Learn More.
For more information, contact the Brain Injury Association of Missouri
for support, education, recreation and advocacy at
www.biamo.org or (800) 444-6443.
#MoreThanMyBrainInjury @MOAgrAbility @ShowMeStrongFarmFamilies @HeroestoHivesMO @MOBeginningFarmers
Helmets can prevent 85 percent of bicycle related head and brain injuries. In 2020, 938 bicyclists died on US roads. Cyclists of all ages should wear a properly fitted, approved helmet at all times.
In 2020, there were 38,886 bicycle-related injuries according to the National Highway Traffic Safety Administration (NHTSA). Bicyclists between the ages of 10 and 20 accounted for more than 8,300 of the injured bicyclists. Learn more.
The largest number of bicycle-related fatalities was among individuals aged 55 to 64. Ninety percent of these individuals were male. Learn more.
There are many reasons to ride a bicycle. It is fun, it is great exercise, it offers freedom, and it is good for the environment. No matter if you are riding on a designated bike path, sidewalk, rural road, or city street, wear your bicycle helmet. Itis important safety equipment. Wear a properly fitted helmet that meets the standards of the U.S. Consumer Product Safety Commission every time you ride. Learn More.
Youth are our future farmers. The Missouri Beginning Farmers and Ranchers Program provides a blended experience for farmers with 10 years or less of farming experience to learn, connect, and grow. Learn more.
For more information, contact the Brain Injury Association of Missouri
for support, education, recreation and advocacy at
www.biamo.org or (800) 444-6443.
#MoreThanMyBrainInjury @MOAgrAbility @ShowMeStrongFarmFamilies @HeroestoHivesMO @MOBeginningFarmers
The death rate in Missouri from motor vehicle crashes in rural areas is more than double that of urban areas. Accidents on rural roadways result in more deaths due to curvier roads, higher driving speeds, lower seatbelt use among some age groups, and limited healthcare infrastructure to meet the emergency needs of the person. Seatbelt use saves lives and reduces brain injuries.
More than 1,000 individuals were killed in Missouri traffic crashes in 2022. Nearly 60 percent of these individuals were not wearing their safety belts. Learn More.
Research from the National Highway Traffic Safety Administration shows that automotive occupants are 45 percent more likely to survive a crash if they are wearing a lap and shoulder belt correctly. Pick-up and light truck passengers are 60 percent more likely to survive a crash when correctly buckled. Learn more.
Between 2009 – 2019, the death rate from motor vehicle crashes in rural Missouri counties was 21.3 percent. This is nearly double the death rate in urban counties from motor vehicle crashes at 10.8 percent. During this same time period, 35 percent of injuries from motor vehicle accidents occurred in rural Missouri, compared to 21 percent for of injuries occurring in urban counties. Learn More.
Of the 126 licensed hospitals in Missouri, only 59 are located in rural communities. There are 55 rural Missouri communities without a hospital, which can result in delayed access to medical care following a motor vehicle crash and can prolong functioning deficits from a brain injury. Learn more.
Missouri AgrAbility helps cultivate solutions for persons with disabilities, including Veterans, to be productive in farming, ranching, or other agribusiness. Qualifying disabilities include brain injury, chronic pain, arthritis, depression, and more. Learn more.
For more information, contact the Brain Injury Association of Missouri
for support, education, recreation and advocacy at
www.biamo.org or (800) 444-6443.
#MoreThanMyBrainInjury @MOAgrAbility @ShowMeStrongFarmFamilies @HeroestoHivesMO @MOBeginningFarmers
The annual cost of brain injury to society is more than $1 trillion in the United States. This includes medical care, rehabilitation services, loss of productivity, and changes to quality of life.
Brain injury comprises 25 percent of all injury-related deaths in the United States. Of the $4.2 trillion in societal costs for all injury fatalities in 2019, it is estimated that brain injury costs for medical care and rehabilitation are $81 billion, work loss costs are $17 billion, and quality of life losses are $950 billion. Learn More.
The costs to individuals and families includes changes in relationships, responsibilities, future and well-being. Rehabilitation, community supports, and adjustments to the new abilities of the injured person assist in improving quality of life after a brain injury. Learn More.
Missouri AgrAbility helps cultivate solutions for persons with disabilities to be productive in farming, ranching, and other agribusiness. Qualifying disabilities include brain injury, chronic pain, arthritis, depression, and more. Learn more.
Changes to cognitive functioning, physical abilities, perceptions, and emotions are effects of brain injury that impact the financial and emotional costs for families and society. Learn more.
For more information, contact the Brain Injury Association of Missouri
for support, education, recreation and advocacy at
www.biamo.org or (800) 444-6443.
#MoreThanMyBrainInjury @MOAgrAbility @ShowMeStrongFarmFamilies @HeroestoHivesMO @MOBeginningFarmers
Effects from brain injury may include short-term memory loss, difficulty processing information, and shortened attention span. Physical changes may include limited use of arms, legs, or hands. Brain injury-related changes can make it more difficult to farm or may keep you from farming. However, modified equipment or alternative methods may be helpful options to support people who want to farm after a brain injury.
Brain injury is complex since no two brain injuries are exactly the same. The effects of a brain injury vary greatly from person to person and depend on factors such as the cause, location, and severity of the injury. Learn More.
Assistive technology and adaptive equipment are available to increase, maintain, or improve functional capabilities of persons with disabilities. Adapted equipment, structures, product systems, or modified work practices can help individuals with brain injury stay in production farming, ranching or agribusiness. Learn More.
The Missouri Beginning Farmers and Ranchers Program provides a blended experience for farmers with 10 years or less of farming experience to learn, adapt, and grow together. Training opportunities are available. Learn More.
Brain injury changes lives. However, there are actions and behaviors you can utilize to adapt to life with a brain injury. For example, you can change your schedule to accommodate increased fatigue from brain injury; focus on simple instructions to assist with delayed comprehension and processing time; modify your home and work environment based on your new physical abilities; and know you are not alone through support and education. Learn More.
A Concussion is a traumatic brain injury. It is a myth that the person must blackout or lose consciousness to sustain a concussion. Less than 10 percent of concussions have a loss of consciousness by the person. Once an individual sustains a concussion or more severe brain injury, he or she is at a greater risk of sustaining another brain injury.
According to the U.S. Consumer Product Safety Commission, more than 454,000 sports-related head injuries were treated in hospital emergency departments in 2018. The sports and recreational activities with the highest number of emergency room treatments were cycling, football, playground equipment, basketball, and exercise equipment. Learn More.
According to the National Center for Biotechnology Information (NCBI) Concussion Continuing Education Report, more than 90 percent of concussions occur with the individual having no loss of consciousness. Symptoms of a concussion may not develop until a few hours or days after the incident. Learn More.
Second-impact syndrome results from acute, often fatal brain swelling that occurs when a second concussion is sustained before complete recovery from a previous concussion. This is thought to cause vascular congestion and increased intracranial pressure, which can occur very rapidly and may be difficult or impossible to control. Learn More.
Any athlete or person who has sustained a concussion or who shows signs of concussion should immediately be removed from physical activity that puts that person at risk of being hit in the head or body. This removal from play should be for 24 hours. Some signs of concussion include disorientation, vomiting, headache, fatigue, ringing in ears, confusion, and more. Learn More.
Young athletes in rural Missouri may be our future farmers. The Missouri Beginning Farmers and Ranchers Program provides a blended experience for farmers with 10 years or less of farming experience to learn, connect, and grow. Learn more.
For more information, contact the Brain Injury Association of Missouri
for support, education, recreation and advocacy at
www.biamo.org or 800-444-6443.
#ConcussionAwarenessNow @MOAgrAbility @ShowMeStrongFarmFamilies @HeroestoHivesMO @MOBeginningFarmers
About 425,000 Veterans live in Missouri. Of these Veterans, 32 percent have a disability.
Missouri Veterans tend to be older, are more likely to have a high school degree, and have a higher rate of disability than the general population. Veterans are about nine percent of the Missouri state population ages 18 years and older. Learn More.
Veterans owned, co-owned or operated 12,600 Missouri-based firms in 2016. This is about 11 percent of all Missouri-based firms and these Veteran-led or co-led businesses accounted for nearly 138,000 jobs. Learn More.
Heroes to Hives is an opportunity for Veterans to be self-employed in agribusiness of beekeeping. The Heroes to Hives – Missouri State Chapter program is an opportunity for Veterans, veteran families and their dependents over the age of 18 to learn financial and personal wellbeing through FREE professional training and community development centered around beekeeping. Learn More.
Missouri AgrAbility helps persons with disabilities, including Veterans, be successful in production agriculture. The brain injury can include brain injury, chronic pain, arthritis, depression, and more. Learn more.
Symptoms may be similar for a mild traumatic brain injury (mTBI)/concussion and posttraumatic stress disorder (PTSD), but they are different conditions. Learn More.
For more information, contact the Brain Injury Association of Missouri
for support, education, recreation and advocacy at
www.biamo.org or (800) 444-6443.
#ConcussionAwarenessNow @MOAgrAbility @ShowMeStrongFarmFamilies @HeroestoHivesMO @MOBeginningFarmers
Death rates from stroke in rural Missouri counties decreased between 2009 and 2019. However, stroke was still the fifth leading cause of death for both rural and urban Missouri residents within the same years. A stroke can sometimes cause temporary or permanent disabilities. Signs of a stroke include face drooping, arm weakness, and speech difficulty.
The death rate from strokes between 2009 – 2019 was 42 percent. This is a decrease in the death rate from strokes that was 45 percent between 2007 – 2017. The stroke death rate was higher for residents in rural counties of Missouri than urban residents during the period 2009 through 2019. Learn More.
F.A.S.T. is an easy way to remember the signs of a stroke.
Face Drooping – Is one side of the face drooping or is the smile uneven?
Arm Weakness – Is one arm weak or numb? Can the person raise his or her arms? Is one arm hanging downward?
Speech Difficulty – Is the person able to answer simple questions? Does the person have slurred speech?
Time to call 9-1-1 – If the person shows any of these symptoms, call for emergency assistance immediately. Check the time to report when the symptoms were first noticed. Learn More.
A stroke occurs when the blood supply to part of your brain is interrupted or reduced. This may happen from a blocked artery or bursting of a blood vessel that prevents oxygen and nutrients to reach the brain tissue. Complications following a stroke may include paralysis or loss of muscle movement, difficulty talking or swallowing. There may also be memory loss or difficulty with processing information as well as reduced emotional control and changes in behavior. The person may experience increased pain. Learn More.
Missouri AgrAbility works with farmers who have a disability from stroke, traumatic brain injury or chronic disease. Learn more.
For more information, contact the Brain Injury Association of Missouri
for support, education, recreation and advocacy at
www.biamo.org or (800) 444-6443.
#MoreThanMyBrainInjury @MOAgrAbility @ShowMeStrongFarmFamilies @HeroestoHivesMO @MOBeginningFarmers
The construction industry has a high rate of fatal and non-fatal brain injuries in the United States. Nearly 43 percent of all occupational deaths from falls, slips, and trips were in the construction industry. Transportation and agriculture are other occupations that are high risk for brain injuries.
Falls, slips, and trips accounted for more than 35 percent of all construction worker deaths in the U.S. in 2020. This same year, construction workers experienced 21,400 non-fatal injuries from falls, slips, and trips. Learn More.
More than 5,100 construction workers were diagnosed with a non-fatal brain injury from a fall between 2016 and 2020 that resulted in missed work days. Balance and vision changes can be a long-term effect of brain injury that may keep individuals from returning to work in construction. Missouri AgrAbility and Heroes to Hives may be new career options. Learn More. Learn More about Missouri AgrAbility. Learn More about Heroes to Hives.
Construction Laborers have a higher incidence rate of non-fatal falls, slips, and trips than all other construction occupations. The falls incidence rate for Construction Laborers is more than double that of all full-time workers within all U.S. industries. Learn More.
More than half of construction work-related fatalities from brain injury were due to falls, especially falls from roofs, ladders, and scaffolds. Prevention of work-related falls includes wearing hardhats, participating in safety trainings, and using proper equipment or supplies. Learn More.
For more information, contact the Brain Injury Association of Missouri
for support, education, recreation and advocacy at
www.biamo.org or (800) 444-6443.
Following a brain injury, 81 percent of individuals return to work. Most of them work in a different industry and/or fewer hours than they did prior to their injury and 71 percent say their work life is worse after brain injury. However, 87 percent of survivors with brain injury who work feel good about what they do and 72 percent are satisfied with their work position.
The University of Missouri Kansas City (UMKC), in partnership with the Missouri Department of Health and Senior Services (DHSS) TBI Grant and the Brain Injury Association of Missouri (BIA-MO) conducted a Needs Assessment in 2022 focusing on employment and volunteering by survivors of brain injury. About 77 percent of respondents said that work is important or very important to them and 87 percent said they feel good about their work. Learn More.
Among the TBI Needs Assessment 2022 survey respondents, 35 percent live in rural area. Missouri AgrAbility is a resource to assist farmers and ranchers to continue careers in production agriculture following a brain injury. Learn more.
Sixty-five percent of the TBI Needs Assessment 2022 respondents stated that their brain injury made it difficult to find, change or advance at work. Reported challenges include:
- 37 percent experienced negative attitudes toward them from co-workers and 30 percent experienced negative attitudes from supervisors.
- 32 percent had difficulties associated with job accommodations. The majority of working survivors of brain injury had not requested accommodations to complete their tasks.
- 27 percent had concerns about losing their government benefits, including health insurance. Learn More.
Work accommodations for persons with brain injury may include organization or assistive technology tools, clear verbal and written communication, reduced hours, office space modifications, disability training for staff and additional options. Being aware of potential accommodations may prepare survivors of brain injury and employers to help the individual be successful in their work. Learn More.
The Job Accommodation Network (JAN) is a resource for employers to identify potential accommodations for employees with disabilities. Learn More.
For more information, contact the Brain Injury Association of Missouri
for support, education, recreation and advocacy at
www.biamo.org or (800) 444-6443.
#MoreThanMyBrainInjury @MOAgrAbility @ShowMeStrongFarmFamilies @HeroestoHivesMO @MOBeginningFarmers
Brain injury can change the life of the injured person as well as his or her family. To better accommodate changes in the physical abilities, cognitive functioning, balance, vision, fatigue, and emotions of the injured person, the spouse or children may increase or change their responsibilities with the family farm. Modifications to equipment and farming operation may be helpful too.
Adaptive devices and assistive technology can help individuals with brain injury-related disabilities to be successful in farming, ranching or other agribusiness. Missouri Assistive Technology has adaptive devices for other resources available. Learn more.
Brain injury happens in an instant and affects the entire family. At some point, most of us will be unpaid caregivers for a loved one. When brain injury occurs, this care may be long-term and can be overwhelming. Care and support are needed for caregivers. Learn More.
Each person is unique, and each brain injury is unique. The effects of brain injury are within four areas of functioning – cognitive, physical, sensory and psychological. In some cases, only one function may be affected, while in other cases, the person may experience changes in each of these areas of functioning. Learn More.
Support, education, recreation, and advocacy are available for survivors of brain injury, family members, friends, professional caregivers, and the community through the Brain Injury Association of Missouri. Learn more.
Missouri AgrAbility assists people with diseases, disabilities, or disorders employed in agriculture. AgrAbility provides professional training, on-the-farm assessments, technical assistance, information dissemination, and referrals to other service providers. Learn more.
For more information, contact the Brain Injury Association of Missouri
for support, education, recreation and advocacy at
www.biamo.org or (800) 444-6443.
#MoreThanMyBrainInjury @MOAgrAbility @ShowMeStrongFarmFamilies @HeroestoHivesMO @MOBeginningFarmers
Brain injury is often called the “invisible disability.” There may not be physical scars or mobility limitations from the brain injury, however, the effects may be short-term memory loss, taking longer to respond to questions, or changes in vision or balance. There may also be a change in personality, mood or sleep patterns.
Short and long-term effects of brain injury depend on the location of the brain damage, severity of the injury, and the health of the brain before the injury. The injury may affect one function of the brain or several functions. Learn more.
Understanding brain injury begins with realizing that a healthy brain is made of neurons (nerve cells). These neurons form tracts that are routed throughout the brain to convey messages to control and coordinate body systems, movements, personality, behavior, and senses. Learn more.
The changes in behavior that may occur after a brain injury are often difficult for the survivor’s family members, friends and co-workers to understand. The survivor may not recognize how his or her behavior is affecting others. In this situation, it is important to reduce stress by providing a structured daily routine, offering support in a respectful manner, and avoiding overstimulation for the injured person. Learn More.
Missouri AgrAbility helps individuals with disabilities, including Veterans, explore farming, ranching, or other agribusiness as potential employment solutions. Disabilities can include brain injury, stroke, chronic pain, arthritis, depression, and more. Learn more.
For more information, contact the Brain Injury Association of Missouri
for support, education, recreation and advocacy at
www.biamo.org or (800) 444-6443.
#MoreThanMyBrainInjury @MOAgrAbility @ShowMeStrongFarmFamilies @HeroestoHivesMO @MOBeginningFarmers
There were 150 individuals who died in motorcycle crashes on Missouri roadways in 2022. Of those, 77 were not wearing a helmet. Wearing an approved motorcycle helmet is effective in saving lives, preventing brain injuries, and saving taxpayer dollars.
The Missouri Department of Transportation (MODOT) summarizes statistics of the Missouri Highway Patrol to report that as of December 31, 2022 there were 150 motorcyclists fatalities on Missouri roadways. Learn More.
The National Highway Traffic Safety Administration estimates that helmets saved the lives of 1,872 motorcyclists in 2017. If all motorcyclists would had worn helmets, an additional 749 lives could have been saved. Learn More.
Wearing a motorcycle helmet saved the lives of 60 Missouri riders in 2017. If all Missouri motorcyclists wore a helmet, an additional eight lives could have been saved. Learn More.
Helmets are estimated to be 37 percent effective in preventing fatal injuries to motorcycle riders and 41 percent effective for motorcycle passengers. In other words, for every 100 motorcycle riders killed in crashes while not wearing helmets, 37 of them could have been saved had all 100 worn helmets. Learn More.
Hospitalization and related medical expenses are higher for non-helmeted motorcyclists due to brain injury. The average hospitalization cost for a motorcyclist not wearing an approved helmet is $6,000 greater than motorcyclists wearing an approved helmet. Learn more. (https://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pmc/articles/PMC5146975/#R3)
For more information, contact the Brain Injury Association of Missouri
for support, education, recreation and advocacy at
www.biamo.org or (800) 444-6443.
#MoreThanMyBrainInjury @MOAgrAbility @ShowMeStrongFarmFamilies @HeroestoHivesMO @MOBeginningFarmers
Brain injury can change lives in an instant, for the person injured as well as his or her family. Brain injury can happen to anyone, anywhere, anytime – it does not discriminate. Military personnel, farmers, senior adults, young children, and teenagers are all high-risk populations for brain injury.
In rural and urban counties in Missouri, accidents/unintentional injuries are the fourth leading cause of death. In rural Missouri, between 2009 – 2019, there were 13,802 deaths from unintentional injury, including brain injury. Learn More.
The brain is responsible for everything we do – it controls movements, sensations, speech, thoughts, and emotions. The effects of brain injury fall within four areas – cognitive functioning, physical abilities, perceptions, and psychological health. Every brain injury is different. Learn More.
18,773 Military Personnel received a medical diagnosis of a traumatic brain injury in 2021, according to the Department of Defense. Learn More.
When brain injury happens, you may feel alone. Nearly 17,000 individuals sustain a brain injury in Missouri each year. Learn more about BIA-MO Support Groups to help find answers and support. Learn more.
Missouri AgrAbility and the Beginning Farmer Rancher Program are resources to help experienced or new farmers be successful in agriculture. Learn more – Missouri AgrAbility. Learn more – Missouri Beginning Farmers.
For more information, contact the Brain Injury Association of Missouri
for support, education, recreation and advocacy at
www.biamo.org or (800) 444-6443.
#MoreThanMyBrainInjury @MOAgrAbility @ShowMeStrongFarmFamilies @HeroestoHivesMO @MOBeginningFarmers
In 2019, traumatic brain injury (TBI) was diagnosed in more than 223,000 hospital stays, including about 16,000 among youth. That same year, TBI contributed to the death of 61,611 people. This includes 2,493 deaths among youth who are at high risk of brain injuries from falls, motor vehicle crashes, bicycle accidents, sports, assaults, and pedestrians being hit by a vehicle.
Children from birth to age 17 account for 4.1 percent of brain injury-related deaths. Younger children, specifically children from birth to age four, have the highest number brain injury-related deaths among youth. Learn More.
The Centers for Disease Control (CDC) reports that most youth who sustain a mild TBI recover from the initial symptoms within six weeks after the injury. Among children who sustain a moderate to severe brain injury, more than 61 percent experience a disability that requires use of specialized medical, educational or vocational services. Learn More.
The long-term effects of the TBI in children may not be realized until years after the injury when higher-level cognitive and behavior functioning are expected for typical development. Learn More.
To protect your child, make sure the bicycle helmet fits properly and ensure he or she knows how to correctly put it on. The helmet should sit on top of the head in a level position. It should not rock forward, backward, or side to side. The helmet straps should always be buckled, but not too tightly. Safe Kids recommends this Helmet Fit Test — EYES check: Position the helmet on your head. Look up and you should see the bottom rim of the helmet. The rim should be one to two finger-widths above the eyebrows. EARS check: Make sure the straps of the helmet form a “V” under your ears when buckled. The strap should be snug but comfortable. MOUTH check: Open your mouth as wide as you can. Do you feel the helmet hug your head? If not, tighten those straps and make sure the buckle is flat against your skin.
Youth are our future farmers. The Missouri Beginning Farmers and Ranchers Program is a great resource that provides a blended experience for farmers with 10 years or less of farming experience to learn, adapt, and grow together. Learn more.
For more information, contact the Brain Injury Association of Missouri
for support, education, recreation and advocacy at
www.biamo.org or (800) 444-6443.
#MoreThanMyBrainInjury @MOAgrAbility @ShowMeStrongFarmFamilies @HeroestoHivesMO @MOBeginningFarmers
The day starts off like many others, then the unforeseen happens – a brain injury. Being thrown off a horse, getting kicked in the head by livestock, tripping over a fallen branch, almost drowning, or having a stroke are all examples of brain injury causes. Brain injury can lead to changes in thinking, concentration, physical abilities, emotions, vision, or balance.
It is estimated that nearly 19,500 farmers sustained injuries to their head and more than 7,500 were diagnosed with a traumatic brain injury (TBI) between 2001 – 2014. Learn More.
Falls off horseback or kicks to the head cause about 20 percent of injuries to the head among horseback riders. About 33 percent of those injuries are diagnosed as traumatic brain injury. Learn More.
Residents of rural Missouri have limited access to health care services due to travel distance to a healthcare provider, lower rates of health insurance coverage, and cost. Since 2014, 15 rural hospitals closed, bringing the count of rural Missouri counties without a hospital to 55. Learn More.
Farmers and ranchers who sustain a brain injury may have the opportunity to continue farming or ranching through Missouri AgrAbility. Services and partnerships available through Missouri AgrAbility provide guidance and assistance through adaptive equipment, changes to farming operations and more. Learn More.
Brain injury happens in an instant and can change lives forever. The journey of life with brain injury is different for everyone and recovery can be a step by step process. Learn More.
Proper medical care, rehabilitation, and community services can help survivors of brain injury improve functionality for daily living. Learn More.
For more information, contact the Brain Injury Association of Missouri
for support, education, recreation and advocacy at
www.biamo.org or (800) 444-6443.
#MoreThanMyBrainInjury @MOAgrAbility @ShowMeStrongFarmFamilies @HeroestoHivesMO @MOBeginningFarmers
The Traumatic Brain Injury Center of Excellence reported more than 463,000 traumatic brain injuries (TBIs) among U.S. Service Members worldwide between 2000 and August 2022. Nearly 25 percent of the Veteran population lives in rural or highly rural communities.
The majority of the 463,000 diagnosed brain injuries among military service members were mild. Learn More.
There are 4.7 million Veterans who live in areas designated as rural according to the VA Office of Rural Health. This is nearly 25 percent of the Veteran population. Learn More.
Missouri is home to 425,000 Veterans. Of these Veterans, approximately 136,000 (32 percent) have some form of disability. Learn More.
Disabilities may impact work and life for Veterans. Missouri AgrAbility may be a resource for Veterans with disabilities who are interested in farming, ranching or agribusiness. Learn More.
The Missouri Chapter of Heroes to Hives is an opportunity for Military Veterans to learn more about sustainable employment through beekeeping. Learn More.
For more information, contact the Brain Injury Association of Missouri
for support, education, recreation and advocacy at
www.biamo.org or (800) 444-6443.
#ConcussionAwarenessNow @MOAgrAbility @ShowMeStrongFarmFamilies @HeroestoHivesMO @MOBeginningFarmers
Prevention is the best cure for brain injury. Wear an approved helmet when horseback riding recreationally or working on a farm.
Of riders who sustained a concussion from falling off a horse, 33 percent contacted a hard surface such as asphalt, 26 percent landed on grass or dirt, and 20 percent landed on indoor riding area floor surface. Most of these injuries occurred while riding or handling the horse. Learn More.
Horseback riding is a leading cause of sports-related traumatic brain injuries (TBIs). Horseback riding injuries make up 45 percent of sports-related TBIs among adults, while 20 percent were from person-to-person contact during competition or practice. Wearing a riding helmet can reduce the risk of severe brain injury by 50 percent. Learn More.
Farmers who sustain a brain injury while horseback riding may benefit from services of Missouri AgrAbility. Learn more.
You should only buy an approved horseback riding helmet that is ASTM/SEI certified. The testing required for the ASTM/SEI certification verifies that the helmet provides adequate protection for horseback riding. Learn more.
Rural life and farming appeal to many Veterans. The Heroes to Hives – Missouri State Chapter program may be an opportunity for Veterans, veteran families and their dependents over the age of 18 to learn beekeeping as a form of sustainable, self-employment. Learn More.
For more information, contact the Brain Injury Association of Missouri
for support, education, recreation and advocacy at
www.biamo.org or (800) 444-6443.
#MoreThanMyBrainInjury @MOAgrAbility @ShowMeStrongFarmFamilies @HeroestoHivesMO @MOBeginningFarmers
In Missouri, an estimated 120,000 individuals are living with a long-term disability due to brain injury. This can include physical, visual, mental, or comprehension disabilities. Employment, transportation, rehabilitation, and recreational services provide survivors an opportunity to live a quality life with brain injury.
Traumatic brain injury (TBI) is a major cause of death and disability in the United States. In 2020, an average of 176 people in the United States died each day from a brain injury. Learn More.
Missouri AgrAbility is a resource for farmers with disabilities to explore options to continue farming based on their current abilities and farming operation. Learn more.
The Missouri Department of Health and Senior Services conducted a targeted TBI Needs Assessment in 2020 to better understand unmet needs by survivors of brain injury. Of the survey respondents, 80 percent reported experiencing at least one barrier to accessing brain injury-related services and supports. Nearly 40 percent of survey respondents said that lacking awareness of services and resources was a barrier for them. Learn More.
The Brain Injury Association of Missouri (BIA-MO) offers Support Groups, Community Resource Services, Survivor and Family Education, and the Donald Danforth Jr. Wilderness Camp to help meet the needs of persons with brain injury and their families. Learn more.
For more information, contact the Brain Injury Association of Missouri
for support, education, recreation and advocacy at
www.biamo.org or (800) 444-6443.
#ConcussionAwarenessNow @MOAgrAbility @ShowMeStrongFarmFamilies @HeroestoHivesMO @MOBeginningFarmers
How To Help
Click on the online donation link.
Mail a donation to:
Donation Mailing Address
Brain Injury Association of Missouri
2265 Schuetz Rd
Saint Louis, MO 63146-3409
Collaborating Partners:
These materials are based in part upon work supported by the National Institute of Food and Agriculture (NIFA), United States Department of Agriculture, under sponsored project number Missouri AgrAbility Award 2022-41590-38128.
This project was supported, in part by grant number 90TBSG0061-02-00, from the U.S. Administration for Community Living, Department of Health and Human Services, Washington, D.C. 20201. Grantees undertaking projects under government sponsorship are encouraged to express freely their findings and conclusions. Points of view or opinions do not, therefore, necessarily represent official Administration for Community Living policy.
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BIA-MO UPCOMING EVENTS
St. Louis (South/Southwest) Support Group – In-Person and Online
SSM Health St. Clare Hospital 1015 Bowles Avenue, Fenton, MOSt. Louis (South/Southwest) – Fourth Tuesday of Month at 7:00 pm. Contact BIA-MO at (314) 426-4024 for online login information. SSM Health St. Clare Hospital, Conference Center (Downstairs), Meeting Room F, 1015 Bowles Ave, Fenton, MO 63026 Contact: BIA-MO Office, (314) 426-4024 for online login information. *Please take the stairs/elevator to the lover level and [...]
Springfield Survivor Support Group
Preferred Family Healthcare 2626 W. College, Springfield, MOSpringfield - Every Wednesday. Contact BIA-MO at (800) 444-6443 for more information. Preferred Family Healthcare, 2626 W. College, Springfield, MO 65802-4637 Facilitator: Lisa Glasgow
