Preventing Concussion

Fall safety tips

Falls can occur anywhere and are the leading cause of TBI and concussions among children.12 You play a crucial role in preventing falls by using:

• Window guards or stops
• Stair gates
• Handrails

Supervision is essential around potential fall hazards, whether at home, school, or during play.2

Motor vehicle safety tips

Ensure your child is always properly buckled up in a car seat, booster seat or seat belt — whichever is appropriate for their age and size.3 Avoid reusing a car seat that shows signs of damage, has been recalled or expired, has been involved in a crash, or lacks essential information such as an expiration date, model number, or instructions.

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Prioritizing safety on the road.

Booster seat use REDUCES the risk for serious injury, including head injuries, by 45% for children ages 4-8, when compared with seat belt use alone.

Source: Arbogast, Jermakian, Kallan, Durbin, 2009. CDC HEADS UP

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If your child is learning to drive, stress the importance of driver safety by talking with them about the eight "danger zones."4

Helmet safety tips

Make sure your child always wears the right helmet for their activity and that it fits correctly.5 Wearing a helmet is a must to help reduce the risk of a serious brain injury or skull fracture while bicycling, skateboarding, skiing or snowboarding, riding on a scooter, and playing sports like tackle football. Replace helmets that have been damaged.5 Be cautious of helmet-related products that may overstate injury-prevention benefits, such as products claiming they can prevent all concussions.67

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Prioritizing safety on the road.

Bicycle helmet laws REDUCE serious head injuries, including traumatic brain injuries, by up to 55%.

Source: Hoye, 2018. CDC HEADS UP

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Recreational vehicle safety tips

Follow the latest guidance on all-terrain vehicle or ATV safety. No child younger than 16 years of age should operate or ride as a passenger on an ATV.8 Get additional information on ATV safety practices from the American Academy of Pediatrics.8

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Prioritizing safety on the road.

ATV helmet use REDUCES the risk for death from a head injury by about 40%.

Source: Jennissen, Denning & Aitken, 2022. CDC HEADS UP

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Playground safety tips

Have your child use playgrounds with soft material under them like mulch or sand, not grass or dirt.910 Read the HEADS UP Playground Safety Tips for Parents to learn more.

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Specific sport recommendations

Your actions can create a safe sport culture. That can lower an athlete's chance of getting a concussion or other serious injury.

Athletes thrive when they:11

• Have fun playing their sport.
• Receive positive messages and praise from their coaches for concussion symptom reporting.
• Have parents who talk with them about concussions and model and expect safe play.
• Support their teammates sitting out of play if they have a concussion.
• Feel comfortable reporting symptoms of a possible concussion to parents and coaches.

Find data on sports- and recreation-related activities.

Sports programs can:

• Expand opportunities for youth in all communities12 to participate in low-cost13 non-contact football programs, such as flag and touch football.
• Limit the number of contact practices for contact and collision sports.141516
• Enforce the rules of the sport for fair play, safety, and sportsmanship.1517181920
• Ensure athletes avoid unsafe actions such as:12122
  • Hitting another athlete in the head
  • Using their head to tackle or hit another athlete
• Educate coaches, sports officials, parents, and athletes about concussion policies and about strategies to reduce head impacts and concussions.2324

Violence prevention safety tips

Violence is a leading cause of TBIs among children.2526 Children younger than 4 years of age and those with special needs (such as disabilities, mental health issues, and chronic physical illnesses) may be at increased risk for assault and abuse.272829 Learn more about strategies to protect children from assault and other forms of violence.