Safety First for Children Traveling in Vehicles.

Motor vehicle crashes are a leading cause of death among children in the United States.  In 2013, 638 children ages 12 years and younger died in motor vehicle crashes, and more than 127,250 were injured.  But parents and caregivers can make a lifesaving difference.

If you are driving anywhere, make sure any child passenger is buckled in an age- and size-appropriate car seats, booster seats, or seat belts. 

Data shows that:

• In 2013, use of restraints saved the lives of 263 children ages 4 years and younger.

• Car seats reduce the risk of death in car crashes by 71% for infants and 54% for toddlers ages 1 to 4.

• Booster seats reduce the risk for serious injury by 45% for children ages 4 to 8 years.

• Between 1975 and 2013, child restraints saved an estimated 10,421 lives of children ages 4 and younger.

Children aged 12 and under should be properly buckled in the back seat.  Front airbags can kill young children riding in the front seat. Never place a rear-facing car seat in the front seat or in front of an airbag.

While all of these statements may sound repetitive, observance of safety tested procedures prevent harm and keep us safe.  Stay Safe!

30th Annual Wells Christmas Parade

30th Annual Wells Christmas Parade

This is the 30th year of the parade in Wells, Maine. Our theme for this year’s parade is “Home For The Holidays.” The parade will take place on Sunday, December 13, 2015 at 2 pm.
Don't miss the holiday cheer!

Did You Suffer a Traumatic Brain Injury?

Have you ever hit your head as a result of a fall, car crash, or other type of activity and just "did not feel right" afterwards? After a few days, you returned to your normal activities, but continued to experience headaches, sensitivity to noise, or difficulty concentrating and remembering things. Does this sound familiar?  You may have suffered a traumatic brain injury (TBI).

A TBI can disrupt the normal functions of your brain. TBIs—ranging from mild concussions to severe, life-threatening injuries—can be prevented by incorporated safety methods for activities.

According to CDC research in the United States:

·         the youngest children and older adults are at highest risk for sustaining fall-related TBIs,

·         adolescents and young adults (persons aged 15–24 years) have the highest rates of motor vehicle-related TBIs, and

·         adults aged 65 years or older have the highest rates of TBI-related hospitalization and are more likely to die from TBI (either TBI alone or along with other injuries or illnesses) than any other age group.

Learning the Signs and Symptoms

Many people with a TBI can recover quickly. But for some people, TBI symptoms can last for days, weeks, or longer. In general, recovery may be slower for older adults, young children, and teens. In severe cases, a TBI can lead to coma and even death. People who have had a TBI in the past are at greater risk of having another one and may find that it takes longer to recover if they have another TBI.

Symptoms of TBI usually fall into four categories

Thinking/Remembering	Physical	Emotional/Mood	Sleep
Difficulty thinking clearly	Headache Fuzzy or blurry vision	Irritability	Sleeping more than usual
Feeling slowed down	Nausea or vomiting (early on) Dizziness	Sadness	Sleeping less than usual
Difficulty concentrating	Sensitivity to noise or light Balance problems	More emotional	Trouble falling asleep
Difficulty remembering new information	Feeling tired, having no energy	Nervousness or anxiety

Some of these symptoms occur at the time of the injury. Other symptoms may not be noticed for days or months after the injury, when a person returns to their everyday life.^[1]

---

[1] Centers for Disease Control and Prevention

If you or a loved one has experienced a head injury seek medical attention immediately.  If the injury was caused due to safety violations consult an attorney.