Head Injury For Natasha Richardson

Downhill skiing is a fun, but dangerous sport. While thousands (millions, really) of people ski without injury, many don’t and some of the injuries are life-threatening or even fatal.

Tony-award winning actress, Natasha Richardson has just joined that group of people, according to the news.

Brain injuries can be devastating. They can change a life – and the lives of the family members in a split second. But even mild and moderate brain traumas can have a significant impact on a life.

I woke up this morning and was listening to the radio, when I heard a report about the accident. So I checked it out on a local news station’s website. Both Access Hollywood and People.com report the same thing.

Richardson, wife to Liam Neeson, is reported to have sustained a traumatic brain injury (TBI) while skiing here in Quebec and that she is serious condition. I’m sure one of the main questions that will come out of this afterwards is “was she wearing a helmet?”

Natasha Richardson

Most skiers don’t seem to want to wear a helmet, much like many cyclists. But there has been a strong push for helmets on the ski hills for both skiers and boarders. The problem is that if you smash into a tree or some other object, your head has no protection at all. While a helmet can’t guarantee you won’t be injured, or even killed, it can give you a bit of a better chance.

I am pro-helmet simply because a helmet saved my life many years ago while I was bike-riding. I was hit by a car and I landed on my head. I kept that helmet for years to show my kids how important helmets are. Sadly, only one of them (out of 3) wears one now. Since they’re adults, there’s not much more I can do.

What is a TBI?

Traumatic brain injuries are caused by a sudden or violent shake or impact. For example, children who are victims of shaken baby syndrome may develop TBI, just as someone who falls off a ladder, or hits a tree while skiing. It can also happen if something pierces the skull, such as a bullet, and hits the brain.

Not all brain traumas are severe. You could end up with only a mild trauma, resulting in a headache, confusion, blurred vision, maybe some nausea. The injury could be moderate, resulting in more severe nausea, vomiting, dizziness, and so on. Severe TBI can involve these signs:

• Worsening, unrelenting headache
• Repeated nausea and vomiting
• Seizures
• Drowsiness, difficult or impossible to wake
• Slurring speech, dizziness, confusion
• Pupils of the eyes are unequal
• Confusion, agitation, restlessness

If you suspect that someone has had a head injury, this should be evaluated as quickly as possible. In many cases, the effects of the injury can be lessened with the proper medical care.

And if you ski or take part in any activity that may result in a head injury, please consider wearing a helmet.

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Images: Bauer Griffin and Dreamstime