Spinal | Dr. Sam

Safety tips to avoid spinal cord injury:

In the car:

Buckle up

Use child safety seats

Keep kids under age 12 buckled in the back seat to avoid air bag injuries

Never drive under the influence of alcohol or drugs

Don't ride with a driver who is impaired by alcohol or drugs

Take the keys away to prevent others from driving while impaired by alcohol or drugs

Falls in the home:

Secure banisters and handrails at all stairwells
Use a step stool with a grab bar to reach high objects
Use non-slip mats in the tub and shower
Use grab bars in the tub and shower
Exercise regularly to keep balance
Wear sturdy non-slip shoes
Re-evaluate the use of medications with disorienting side effects
Remove anything in the home that may be tripped over
Use child safety gates at the bottom and top of stairs if toddlers and young children are around

Guns:

During sports and recreation:

Always wear a helmet when riding a bike, motorcycle, scooter, or skateboard; while in-line skating, rollerskating, skiing, snowboarding, or horseback riding; when playing football or ice hockey; and when batting and running the bases in baseball and softball
If you dive into water, make sure it is deep enough to avoid hitting your head - jumping in feet first is safer than diving, according to the American Red Cross.
Avoid tackling with the top of your head, sliding head-first into a base, or other activities that require head-first moves
Use spotters when doing gymnastics