Temecula Events Focus On High Incidence Of Brain Injuries In Kids

The following is a news release from Southwest Healthcare System:

“We have too many of our youth come through our trauma department every week,” says Maureen Bowlin, Trauma Program Manager at Southwest Healthcare’s Inland Valley Medical Center.  “The large majority of these accidents are while driving and where alcohol is involved more than 75% of the time.  We also see a large portion of our teens in accidents due to driving while on the cell phone or texting.  We need this to stop.”

The Brain Injury Prevention Presentation was sponsored by Southwest Healthcare System and Chaparral High School’s Parent Teacher Student Association and was held at the school’s performing arts center.  Children, teens, parents, even seniors attended the event.  “I was shocked at the number of kids that our local hospital (Trauma Department) sees every year,” stated one parent.

One mother told her story of her teenage son and his traumatic skate boarding accident.  “If we could change one thing today, it would to have everybody who rides (skateboard, bike, etc.) wear a helmet.  It’s our fault as adults for letting this happen.”  She went on to say that her son ended up at Inland Valley ICU for 3 days with a hospital stay of 10 days.  He now has lost his sense of taste and smell.

Dr. Daniel Friedlich, a Neurosurgeon on-staff at Inland Valley Medical Center, presented insight to the damage these accidents can have on the brain.  “You don’t have to be going fast or hit your skull hard to suffer lasting damage,” stated Dr. Friedlich.

Maureen Bowlin concluded, “Life is a gift, protect it.  Parents need to sit down with their teens and talk to them one on one.  It’s about education and staying on top of it with our kids.”  This special presentation shed fascinating light on a subject that needs continual attention.  As a follow up, Southwest Healthcare will be sponsoring its 2nd Annual Teen Expo on Saturday, April 20th from 1-4pm at The Promenade in Temecula.  This special event will educate families about the dangers discussed here during this presentation as well as other important topics while at the same time providing a fun afternoon of entertainment for teens and their families.