Three weeks later, your son finally opens his eyes. This is a good sign. But the end of your family’s ordeal is far from over. “Your son’s leg may need surgery at some point, but it will heal,” the doctor explains. “There’s a much bigger problem, though. The traumatic brain injury he suffered may hamper his development for the rest of his life. It’s even possible that he may never progress beyond the point he is right now.”

A traumatic brain injury (TBI) may occur when the head is struck or injured by an outside force or when an object penetrates the skull and pierces the brain. Brain damage can result from such an injury and may lead to long-term disabilities.

According to the Brain Injury Association of America (BIAA), each year 1.4 million Americans suffer a TBI. Of that number, more than 50,000 people die. Approximately two percent of the American population—roughly 5.3 million people—live with long-term consequences of a TBI.

The good news is that TBI can be avoided if we follow some common-sense precautions. Here are some of the things the BIAA recommends in order to protect ourselves and our loved ones:

• Wear helmets when engaging in sports such as horseback riding, using a scooter, skiing, biking, skateboarding, skating, or engaging in team sports such as football, ice-hockey, and baseball.

• Always buckle up when riding in a motor vehicle and buckle children into appropriately-sized car seat.

• Keep guns and ammunition locked safely away.

• Don’t drive when under the influence of drugs or alcohol. Warn teens not to ride with a driver in this condition.

• Soft, absorbent materials such as mulch or sand should be used for playground areas.

• To keep small children from falling, use safety gates on the top and bottom of stairways.

• To help protect seniors in your household, provide non-slip rugs and mats in bathrooms, install handrails where needed, and make sure there is adequate lighting throughout the home. Encourage seniors to remain physically active according to their doctor’s recommendation. Keep walking areas free from loose electrical cords and small rugs.

• For high, hard-to-reach cupboards and cabinets, have a stool with a grab bar handy.

A TBI can irrevocably change someone’s life; let’s do all we can to ensure it doesn’t happen to ourselves or the people we care about.

Lisa Clark is a freelance writer. She is the author of short stories as well as various factual articles. She is currently working on a novel.