Brain Injury

Mauricio Valdez, 19, who was severely injured in an El Monte motorcycle accident has undergone surgery since and is now going through a tough recovery, according to our sources. The San Gabriel Valley Tribune reported earlier that the collision between Valdez's motorcycle and another vehicle occurred the afternoon of December 20, 2011, near the intersection of Penn Mar Avenue and Ramona Boulevard.

Officials say Valdez was westbound on Ramona when the other vehicle exited a driveway and drove into his path. The victim was thrown off his motorcycle and sustained major injuries. He suffered a traumatic brain injury, as well as a broken hand, jaw, hip, and leg, our sources said. He underwent surgery on his arm, leg, and hip on December 29, 2011, and is in stable condition after the procedure.

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A husband and wife were injured in a Lancaster car accident after their bicycles was hit by a minivan. According to an Associated Press news report, the major injury collision occurred the evening of August 27, 2011 at a street intersection. Police say the couple was attempting to cross an intersection as was a minivan. At the time, the minivan was pushed into the cyclists' path when it was hit by another vehicle. The man sustained severe head injuries and is said to be in critical condition. The wife is said to be in stable condition. Both were wearing helmets. The man and his wife were riding with a group of about 20 riders. No one else was injured. An investigation is ongoing.

My heart goes out to these injured victims. The male bicyclist here may have suffered severe head trauma or a brain injury. I wish both the very best for a speedy and full recovery. Please keep them in your thoughts and prayers.

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A 2-year-old boy was hospitalized after he suffered serious injuries in a swimming pool accident. According to a report in the Los Angeles Daily News, the swimming pool accident occurred off North Cerrillos Drive in Woodland Hills the afternoon of May 31, 2011. The young victim was conscious when he was put aboard the helicopter that airlifted him to UCLA Medical Center. He is said to be in stable condition. It is unclear how the 2-year-old fell into the pool or how long he was in there.

My thoughts and prayers are with the young victim of this swimming pool accident. I wish him a complete and speedy recovery.

Swimming Pool Accidents

According to the U.S. Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC), drowning is the second leading cause of all unintentional deaths for children aged 1 to14. Drowning is the leading cause of death for infants in 14 states, including California. Children under the age of 5 are 14 times more likely to be involved in a fatal swimming pool accident than a fatal car crash. Read the rest »

Kailyn Williams, 12, sustained critical injuries in a Los Angeles car accident after she was hit by a suspected drunk driver while riding her bicycle. According to a CBS News report, the major injury collision occurred on April 22, 2011. Police say the driver, Thomas Abraham Long, was driving a Chrysler Concorde westbound on West Arbutus Street in Compton, when he struck Kailyn who was riding her bike near her home. Long stopped at the scene and was arrested on suspicion of felony drunk driving.

My heart goes out to young Kailyn Williams who has apparently sustained a traumatic brain injury in this accident. Officials say she has undergone brain surgery and is in a medically induced coma. Her family is praying for a miracle. My thoughts and prayers are with this child. I sincerely hope she makes it through these critical injuries and goes on to make a complete recovery. Read the rest »

A 3-year-old boy suffered injuries in swimming pool accident the afternoon of March 23, 2011. According to a news report in The Press-Enterprise, the near-drowning incident occurred in a backyard pool in the 48800 block of Legacy Drive in La Quinta. The child was breathing and conscious when taken to the hospital. Officials are looking into what caused this near-drowning incident.

It is indeed fortunate that this did not turn into a fatal incident. My thoughts and prayers are with this little boy. I sincerely hope he makes a quick and complete recovery.

Swimming Pool Accident Statistics

According to a 2007 report by the U.S. Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC), there were 3,443 fatal unintentional drowning incidents in the United States. The report also states that fatal drowning is the "second-leading cause of unintentional injury-related death for children ages 1 to 14 years." Nonfatal drowning incidents or near-drowning can cause brain injuries and brain damage that may result in long-term disabilities including memory problems, learning disabilities, and permanent loss of basic functioning. Read the rest »

A 3-year-old boy was seriously injured in a Ventura swimming pool accident the morning of March 1, 2011. According to a news report in The Ventura County Star, the near-drowning incident occurred on Solano Verde Drive in an unincorporated area of Ventura County. A family member rescued the boy after he was found in the pool. The boy was not breathing at the time, but was said to be awake when emergency personnel arrived. The extent of the toddler's injuries is not known at this time. It is also unclear how the boy fell into the pool.

My thoughts and prayers are with the 3-year-old boy and his family following this Ventura County swimming pool accident. I wish him a complete and speedy recovery from his injuries.

Swimming Pool Accident Statistics

According to a 2007 report by the U.S. Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC), there were 3,443 fatal unintentional drowning incidents in the United States. The report also states that fatal drowning is the "second-leading cause of unintentional injury-related death for children ages 1 to 14 years." Near-drowning incidents are extremely serious because they can result in catastrophic injuries, including brain injuries, when the oxygen supply to the brain is cut off. Read the rest »

Head trauma can happen at any time; we just hope that we will be able to handle it when it does. Unfortunately, many don't and they do not tend to the wound, and the situation, in the manner that would have benefited the victim the most. Whether it is a minor bump, or a catastrophic injury, knowing the proper steps to take in case of an emergency could save a life.

Minor head injuries may be cared for at home, but if is not always possible for an unlicensed professional to differentiate between minor and major. If you witness a serious head injury, make sure to contact a medical care provider immediately. Read the rest »

Suffering from a serious brain injury is no laughing matter; millions of people suffer from debilitating brain damage and, more often than not, the incident that caused their horrific condition was easily preventable. For many, keeping in mind the top causes of brain injuries seems pointless, considering the countless ways that you could become a victim. For others, this article could prove to be invaluable and you could walk away relatively unharmed from a situation that would have caused you a lifetime of regrets.

Head injury is the leading cause of death and disability in persons under 45-years-old, occurring more frequently than breast cancer, AIDS, multiple sclerosis, and spinal cord injury combined, according to the Brain Injury Association of America. With these types of numbers, it comes as no surprise that an estimated 5 million Americans have some form of disabling condition due to a traumatic brain injury. So what can one do to avoid suffering a life-changing head injury? Take necessary precautions while engaging in its leading causes. Read the rest »

Walt Daniels, 66, a member of the San Diego Chargers' game-day staff at Qualcomm Stadium, suffered fatal personal injuries after he fell 25 to 30 feet from the coaches' box on to the cement covered ground right before a Chargers game on October 19, 2009. According to a news report from the Associated Press, Daniels suffered a massive head injury after his fall. Paramedics performed CPR and transported Daniels to a San Diego hospital where he died early morning October 20.
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Here is a news article that talks about the concerns of a family that lost a beloved member in a Los Angeles car accident. According to this news report in the Whittier Daily News, Kimberly Richter, the mother of 15-year-old Andre Emilio Leon, wants answers from the California Highway Patrol about the April 21, 2009 head-on collision with a wrong-way driver that allegedly killed her son. Richter basically wants to know why the pickup's driver, 19-year-old Derik Armstrong, was not tested for alcohol or drugs that night and why he has not been arrested although he has prior traffic violations. Read the rest »