Brain Injury Awareness Month

WHEREAS, a traumatic brain injury (TBI) is a blow, jolt or bump to the head or a penetrating head injury that disrupts the brain's normal function, often resulting in a lifetime of physical, cognitive and behavior challenges; and

WHEREAS, 1.7 million Americans, including 475,000 children, sustain a traumatic brain injury each year, and as many as 5.3 million people nationwide live with long-term disabilities due to TBI; and

WHEREAS, in the Commonwealth of Virginia, more than 5,000 people each year are hospitalized with TBI, largely the result of motor vehicle crashes, falls, assaults, sporting-related injuries or occupational injuries; and

WHEREAS, TBI contributes to more than a third of all injury-related deaths in Virginia; and

WHEREAS, as the signature injury of the wars in Iraq and Afghanistan, TBI presents new challenges for Virginia veterans and their families; and

WHEREAS, early, equal and adequate access to care will greatly increase the overall quality of life of Virginians with TBI, enabling them to return to home, school, work and community; and

WHEREAS, the Brain Injury Association of America promotes March as "Brain Injury Awareness" month with the motto, "Brain Injury: Anytime, Anywhere, Anyone," to encourage awareness of the extent, causes, consequences, treatment and prevention of TBI; and

WHEREAS, the Department for Aging and Rehabilitative Services is the lead agency for coordinating brain injury services in the Commonwealth, in partnership with the Department of Veterans Services and the Virginia Wounded Warrior Program, the Department of Health, the Department of Education, the Department of Medical Assistance Services and the Brain Injury Association of Virginia;

NOW, THEREFORE, I, Robert F. McDonnell, do hereby proclaim March 2013 as BRAIN INJURY AWARENESS MONTH in the COMMONWEALTH OF VIRGINIA, and I call this observance to the attention of all our citizens.