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;
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;
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;
WHEREAS, TBI contributes to more than a third of all injury-related deaths in Virginia;
WHEREAS, as the signature injury of the wars in Iraq and Afghanistan, TBI presents new challenges for Virginia veterans and their families;
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;
WHEREAS, the Department of 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 2012 as BRAIN INJURY AWARENESS MONTH in the COMMONWEALTH OF VIRGINIA, and I call this observance to the attention of all our citizens.