September is Spinal Cord Injury Awareness Month and that’s important both because the issues with accommodations and accessibility which we face need to be brought to the table, and because most spinal cord injuries (SCI) can be prevented. Awareness of the staggering statistics (18,000 new injuries per year in the US alone) and the risky behaviors that can result in these catastrophic injuries, may actually serve to prevent some of them.
Common causes of spinal cord injuries
Most SCI are the result of accidents, with the exception of birth defects and medical conditions that can affect the spine.
Automobile accidents account for nearly half of catastrophic SCI.
Male drivers are more at risk. Men actually account for about 80% of SCI. Younger drivers (age 16 to 30) are more at risk, too, especially men. Neglecting to wear a seatbelt greatly increases the risk of spinal injuries.
Falls are a leading cause in older individuals and the second most common type of accident causing SCI at about 30%.
Acts of violence come in next (usually involving gunshot wounds) followed by sports and recreation injuries (usually involving impact sports and diving in shallow water).
Preventing spinal cord injury
Avoiding automobile accident injuries
While another driver can potentially cause accident and injury when you are out on the road, you can still reduce your risk of causing and even becoming involved in an accident, whether you’re behind the wheel or a passenger.
- Avoid distracted driving
- Don’t drink and drive
- Don’t drive with low vision/while tired
- Don’t speed/follow traffic laws
- Wear a seatbelt when driving or riding
- Don’t ride with reckless or intoxicated drivers
Avoiding fall-related injuries
Falls are the leading cause of SCI in individuals over 65. Some relatively simple home modifications may reduce risk.
- Install grab bars near stairs, toilet, tub and shower
- Place nonskid mats, strips, or carpet on all surfaces that may get wet
- Use porch lights and night lights
- Arrange furniture appropriately to avoid tripping hazards
Avoiding acts of violence
Violence-related SCIs accounted for 15% of all spinal cord injuries in the US from 2015 to 2021. Most were using firearms, and most young men, disproportionately Black. Spinal cord injuries caused by domestic gun violence accounted for 17% all SCI in 2018.
Additionally, alcohol has been found to be involved in nearly a quarter of SCI, and not limited to vehicular accidents but often present in victims of violence. Illicit drug involvement has been found to be over four times as frequent in survivors of acts of violence resulting in SCI, too.
- Practice extreme caution with firearms
- Consume alcohol responsibly
- Avoid illicit drugs/drug users
- Seek help if a survivor of domestic abuse
Avoiding sports/recreational injuries
Diving was the fourth leading cause of spinal cord injury for men and the fifth for women in 2019. Diving holds a particularly high risk of injury at the cervical level. The most high risk sports include football, rugby, hockey, skiing, surfing and gymnastics.
- Never dive or jump into murky water
- Enter unknown waters feet first
- Wear a helmet and other protective equipment when playing sports/riding
- Understand how to protect your neck during contact sports
- Seek professional coaching to perform high risk sports safely
This September, the SCI community wants to let the public know we’re here, trying to survive and thrive like everyone else – and that everyone else is just an accident away from an injury too, but most can be prevented.
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