Students Appeal to People of Ireland – Mind Your Head this Christmas
Athlone I.T. Co Westmeath: The Union of Students in Ireland has teamed up with brain injury specialists Acquired Brain Injury Ireland to launch their education and prevention ‘Mind Your Head’ Christmas Campaign. Acquired Brain Injury Ireland and the USI are appealing to people to take precaution this year and reduce the number of brain injuries being suffered throughout the Christmas period.
Approximately 13,000 people acquire a head injury in Ireland each year, drastically changing their life thereafter. With an increase in unprovoked assaults, alcohol related falls and road traffic accidents following increased speed, acquired brain injury is vastly becoming a growing epidemic.
As the Christmas period appears in full swing Acquired Brain Injury Ireland, Irelands leading provider in community based neuro-rehabilitation services, are appealing to everyone to reduce the risks you take this Christmas and ‘Mind Your Head’.
Speaking about the launch of the campaign Acquired Brain Injury Ireland CEO Barbara O’ Connell said, “At Christmas we move at a faster pace than ever, we are multi-tasking and concentrating on over a hundred things at once leaving ourselves open to risk and vulnerable to injury. Whether you are travelling to be with family and friends, or simply running from one Christmas party to the next, remember to take precaution and do not put yourself at risk. This time of year people are essentially drinking more; often leaving yourself defenceless to an alcohol related trip or fall, unfortunate to be involved in an unprovoked assault or even unsteady running in those pair of extra high heels. A brain injury can happen from often the simplest incidents, and to anyone, at any time, in any place”.
“At ABI Ireland we have seen first-hand the devastation that has been caused when a loved one suffers a brain injury; lives have been shattered. We hope this campaign will remind people prevention is better than cure, and so begin to reduce the number of brain injuries being suffered in Ireland. The brain is one of the greatest gifts of all; Mind Your Head this Christmas, you get one brain so take care of it “, continued Ms O’ Connell.
As the chosen charity of the Union of Students in Ireland, Acquired Brain Injury Ireland’s Mind Your Head campaign is being strongly supported by the USI at their post budget National Council conference in Athlone I.T. this week.
Speaking at the launch of the campaign USI President John Logue said,
“USI and our members Students’ Unions are proud to be supporting Acquired Brain Injury Ireland’s Mind Your Head campaign. Sadly many students have experienced brain injury first hand through friends, family or classmates who may have acquired a brain injury following an alcohol related incident, trip or fall, unprovoked assault or sports injury.
If our students can lead by example and begin to reduce the risks they take, we hope the people of Ireland will follow us and join this important campaign. Mind your head this Christmas- the risk you encounter may take seconds, but the recovery will last a lifetime”.
Acquired Brain Injury Ireland is the USI Charity of the Year 2012/2013. To support this organisation and campaign this year log onto www.abiireland.ie
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