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6 tips for adjusting to life after a brain injury

Most victims of brain injury and members of their family face a gamut of new and unfamiliar challenges on the road to recovery. Knowing how to navigate life and how to deal with the challenges recovery presents can be unbelievingly challenging. To help victims of brain injury Brainline developed a guide for adjusting to life after brain injury.

1. Redefine success

When your life changes after a brain injury it is likely your definition of success will also need to change. Comparing yourself and your progress to how you performed before your injury can be very limiting. Focusing on what you can do and how you can improve can help you change your definition of success. Explore ways you can be successful and set standards for yourself. No matter what state you are in you can improve yourself, enjoy relationships and live a meaningful life.

2. Ask for help

Asking for help can he a surprisingly difficult task. The fear of seeming like a burden or being turned away often stifles us from trying to get the help we need. But everybody needs help at some point or another. Don’t let a situation become a crisis before asking for help, and make sure to return a favour and thank those who have helped you.

3. Be kind to yourself

Immediately after a brain injury you begin your road to recovery. Taking time to heal and respecting the fact that your body needs time to mend itself mentally, physically and emotionally is very important. Being hard on yourself right now will only make things more difficult on you and those around you. Instead try to be kind and compassionate to yourself taking into consideration where you are in your recovery journey.

4. Set manageable goals

It’s easy to become overwhelmed by the hurdles ahead of you in your recovery. To manage this, break down the large goals in your recovery into small reasonable steps—ones you can do day-to-day to accomplish those bigger goals. Focusing on what you can do today and tomorrow can make the prospects of achieving big goals much less daunting. Even beyond recovery, breaking down your life goals in the same way can make them more manageable to achieve.

5. Create a support system

Social interaction is extremely important for recovery. After a brain injury receiving support and understanding is extremely comforting and helps stave off feelings of loneliness. Reconnecting with friends who have become distant after your brain injury, helping those in your circle of friends and family, as always showing care is important to maintain those relationships. If you don’t feel like those around you are able to understand what you are going through perhaps consider joining a support group to meet people who have similar experiences.

6. Practice patience

Patience is an essential skill to have while recovering from a brain injury. You will likely need to be persistent over time to reach recovery, but it can be difficult to keep your cool when faced with a difficult journey to get there. When you feel yourself losing your cool or becoming frustrated find a way to take a step back and relax yourself, whether that’s taking a deep breath or repeating an affirmation. Find what works for you.

Navigating the road to recovery after a brain injury can be difficult. We help brain injury victims during recovery as a part of the Circle of Care.

If you have been injured, and need legal assistance, call #1000 on your cell phone for free. We will offer you a free claim assessment.

November 17, 2017 Uncategorized

5 ways to avoid drowsy driving

It’s shocking how many Ontarians are driving fatigued or drowsy. A study estimates that 27% of crashes resulting in fatality or injury are related to fatigued driving. Also, a public opinion poll found nearly 60% of Ontario drivers admit to driving fatigued sometimes at the very least and 14.5% have admitted to falling asleep or nodding off while driving in the past year.

Here are five key ways to avoid driving while drowsy and stay safe on the road from The Canada Safety Council:

1. Drive only when rested

Getting behind the wheel when you’re fatigued or drowsy puts others at risk. If you are going to be driving in the near future plan ahead for a good night’s rest. If you are fatigued and need to drive somewhere either sleep first, find a way to cancel or postpone the trip to another time when you’ll be alert, or get a rested person to drive instead.

2. Keep your mind alert

While you’re driving do things that help keep you alert. Listening to up-tempo music, talking to company in the vehicle, and chewing gum are all things that might work for you. Make sure to actively watch road signs and traffic and keep your head up and shoulders back while changing position frequently.

3. Find a safe place to stop

If you’re taking a long trip you should be especially be aware of your energy levels and whether you’re feeling fatigued or drowsy. Relying on coffee to keep you awake and not stopping can be dangerous. Every couple hours you should take a break from driving and pull off the road for some exercise and fresh air. If you are sleepy find a safe place to take a nap or spend the night at a hotel.

4. Be careful about what you eat and drink

Make sure to hydrate and eat high-protein snacks over heavy or fatty foods that will make you sleepy. If you are going to be driving you should avoid alcohol and medications that can that can cause fatigue or drowsiness. If you need to take medication talk with your doctor to find out how to lessen it’s effects on driving.

5. Drive defensively

While driving make sure to be prepared to prevent a collision if other drivers around you are drowsy. Driving defensively is important to protect yourself.

Drowsy driving is extremely dangerous.

Fast dial #1000 free from your cell and we’ll get you the support you need.

October 27, 2017 Driving, Road Safety, Uncategorized

How to stay safe while trick-or-treating

Halloween can be an exciting time of year for children, but the highlight of Halloween, trick or treating, can come with a lot of safety hazards and dangers. Make sure you read these seven tips from The National Safety Council to help you keep yourself and your loved ones safe while trick-or-treating this Halloween.

1. Supervise young children

A young child should never go trick-or-treating alone. A parent or responsible adult should always accompany young children as they do their rounds throughout the neighbourhood for treats.

2. Set guidelines for the evening

If your children are older and are going out without you, it’s a good idea to set some guidelines before they leave for the evening. Plan and go over with your child a route that is safe and they will stick to. Staying in well-lit and familiar areas make for a safer evening. Remind your child to avoid trick-or-treating alone and stay with a buddy or a group. Before they leave decide on a time when they should expected to be home.

3. Pick and choose where to knock

While you’re out with your children, only approach homes that have a porch light on. Make sure to explain this to your children if they are going out without you as well. Not only will the bad lighting pose a safety issue but it also indicates that a knock on the door will not be welcomed. A lack of outdoor lights or decorations means there’s a good chance they aren’t participating in the Halloween fun.

4. Educate about stranger danger

Trick-or-treating on Halloween means your child might be interacting with a lot of strangers. While you probably have told your child on other occasions to never get into a stranger’s car or to never go into a stranger’s home it’s a good time to remind them before the trick-or-treating begins. The fun and excitement of Halloween can be distracting so let them know if they’re offered to go with a stranger, get into a stranger’s car or enter a stranger’s home to get a treat to say no.

5. Be aware

There can be lots of distractions on Halloween so it’s important to stay focused on where you’re going. Being glued to a phone and not paying attention to where you are going can be a problem for both parents and children. Keeping your eyes up, using a flashlight, looking both ways before crossing the street and walking instead of running can go a long way in keeping you and your children safe.

6. Wait to eat the treats

Whether your child is going out on their own or with you, setting a rule to wait to munch on their treats till arriving home is a good idea. Going through your child’s candy loot is essential for safety. Look at each item for tampering with the packaging and any allergens that might affect your child. Homemade treats, unless made by a close family member or friend you can trust, should be thrown out.

7. Pick your costume carefully

Your costume plays a big role in your Halloween safety. All parts of your child’s costume should be fire-resistant and if you or your children will be going out after dark, attaching reflective tape to their costumes and treat bags is a good way for them to stay visible. Also, if you or your child are using makeup as part of a costume ensure it’s nontoxic, test it in a small area before applying lots and remove all of it before going to sleep.

If you have been injured, and need legal assistance, call #1000 on your cell phone for free. We will offer you a free claim assessment.

October 20, 2017 Uncategorized

What every parent ought to know about bike safety

Your guide to make your child’s ride to school a safe one.

Cycling to school can be a great opportunity for you and your children. Not only does it begin creating healthy fitness habits for your child, but it also creates a bonding activity for the both of you.

However, cycling poses some serious dangers to your child. Before you hit the road, or trail, with your kids make sure you read over these tips from Liv:

1. Pick an appropriate route

Before venturing out with your children on a bike-ride to school consider the route you are going to take. Ride it first on your own and notice any key aspects of the route. Are there bike paths available? What is the traffic like when you will be biking? How long or steep is the ride? If the route has lots of traffic, is too difficult for you child’s fitness level, or poses dangers for their experience level you should find a safe and appropriate route for them, or reconsider.

2. Prepare your child’s bike

Kids grow quickly, and that means they can grow out of their bicycles quickly. Make sure that your child’s bike still fits, and that it works properly. Teach your children to check the air pressure, breaks and chain before hopping on their bike each time to prevent an accident or injury. Also, your child’s bike should have a horn or bell, as well as proper lights in case of inclement weather or riding at night.

3. Get and adjust a certified helmet

According to Ontario law anyone under the age of 18 must wear a helmet while cycling. But it takes more than just wearing one to protect your child. The helmet needs to fit properly. While purchasing a helmet make sure it is the correct size, as well as certified, and before your child wears the helmet make sure you adjust it for proper fit. Never let your child wear a helmet that has already experienced impact.

4. Avoid dangerous clothing

Wearing certain types of clothing while biking can create a safety hazard for your children. Children should avoid wearing footwear that could get caught in parts of the bike—like running shoes with untied shoe laces or loose sandals. Also, loose pant legs or other loose pieces of clothing below the waist can become caught in parts of the bike and should be avoided.

5. Educate on bike safety

Before you and your child leave home on your bikes you should talk to your child about bike safety. Going through the basics of yielding to and communicating with pedestrians, biking on the right side in a straight predictable line, and taking caution at intersections or driveways is a must. Also, have your children practice good communication with drivers. Making eye contact with drivers to make sure they are seen and using biking signals to communicate with drivers are skills they should learn as early as possible.

Even if you and your children are practicing safe cycling, sometimes you can still be injured by others. If you or someone you love has been injured by another party’s negligence while cycling we can help with their recovery journey.

Fast dial #1000 free from your cell and we’ll get you the support you need.

September 29, 2017 Road Safety, Uncategorized

How to practice self-care as a caregiver

5 simple steps to take back your well-being

When you become a caregiver, often it’s your own needs that quickly take a backseat in order to put those you care about first. However, taking care of your own well-being is essential to be able to continue caring for those who rely on you, and as we practice self-care the person you care for benefits as well.

Taking small steps to maintain your well-being is essential. Here are some simple steps from the Family Caregiver Alliance you can take as a caregiver to help keep you burning bright instead of burning out.

1. Reduce stress

Stress stems from many different avenues, and it’s important to be cognizant of stress in your life, the forms it takes in your actions, where it comes from and what part of those stressors you can change. Next, explore de-stressing activities until you find one that works for you. Meditation, taking a walk, regular exercise or chatting with friends are all things you can try.

2. Take care of your physical health

You’re so focused on others’ physical health it can be easy to forget your own. Give your body the fuel it needs by making a full night’s sleep and eating nutritious food a daily priority. Incorporating exercise into your routine is important as well, even if for just 10 minutes a day. In addition to daily actions to take care of your personal health taking time to see a physician when you need to is crucial. Make your appointments at convenient times and go prepared with all your questions.

3. Seek and accept support

Knowing when you need help is a sign of strength. When it comes to needing support with your caregiving, break down things you need help with into simple tasks so it’s clear and easy for others to understand how to help you, or what you’re asking for. For example, you’re overwhelmed and cooking takes up a lot of your time. You could ask a friend who offered assistance to help you with preparing meals once a week. Seeking emotional support is also important as well. There is no shame in reaching out to friends, counselors or support groups when you need someone to talk to.

4. Be cognizant of your feelings/mind set

Since caregiving can be a very emotional it’s important to recognize what you are feeling. You are allowed to have a range of emotions about your life as a caregiver. Recognize what they are and if they become overwhelming or intense seek support and reduce stress. Changing your mindset can have a huge impact on your emotions. If you have an overly negative view of your situation try to change it.

5. Set goals

Starting a journey of self-care is a positive change but a life change nonetheless. Whether you are starting from the very beginning, or you want to improve your existing self-care, the change you seek to make in your life can fall away from your attention if you don’t keep yourself accountable. Setting goals and sticking to them is a great way to do this. Break down your goals into smaller achievable ones that will help you get there.

If you have been injured, and need legal assistance, call #1000 on your cell phone for free. We will offer you a free claim assessment.

September 22, 2017 Uncategorized

10 small life changes to help reduce chronic pain

Chronic pain can be debilitating. Living with this chronic condition can have an immense effect on your life, health and relationships, making it difficult to stay positive.

But there are a few small life changes you can try to navigate your road to a life with less pain. Here are some tips from WebMD to reduce your chronic pain that might work for you:

1. Meditation

Learning meditation can be a great way to relax. The calm and relaxation that meditation aims to achieve through focusing and quieting your thoughts can not only help you relax mentally but also physically. Reducing the amount of stress in your body can in turn help reduce the pain in your body and help relax the stress it puts on you mentally.

2. Destress

Living with chronic pain can make you feel a gamut of negative emotions due to the limitations and sensations it can introduce into your life. Since your body and mind work together these negative emotions can in turn intensify the initial pain.

By taking control of stress in your life you can help reduce your pain by breaking the cycle. To destress try a number of things to see what works for you. Introducing activities like listening to music that relaxes you, and progressive muscle relaxation are just some things that might work for you.

3. Exercise

Exercising causes your body to release endorphins, which interact with receptors in your brain that can reduce pain perception. Aside from the physical benefits of regular exercise like reduced heart disease risk and controlled blood sugar levels, regular exercise has been shown to reduce stress, improve sleep, reduce feelings of anxiety and depression, as well as boost self esteem. Before choosing on an exercise regime make sure to ask your doctor what exercise is right for you.

4. Alcohol

Living with chronic pain can make sleep difficult. Consuming alcohol, can seem like a good way to help with sleep since it helps induce sleep—but it actually reduces

the amount of restorative rapid eye movement (REM) sleep. Reducing the amount of alcohol you consume, or cutting it out completely, could improve your quality of life.

5. Support groups

The mental toll of chronic pain can be immense. Meeting others dealing with chronic pain through support groups not only can make you feel less alone in coping with the pain but can be a great avenue to discover ways others cope with chronic pain. It’s not uncommon for people with chronic pain to develop depression. Seeking out help from a mental health professional can be very beneficial to your overall health.

6. Smoking

Having a smoking habit carries with it a number of negative health effects. While smoking may give you an initial boost from the nicotine, the lasting negative effects from the habit can make your chronic pain worse. There’s evidence suggesting that smokers are at an increased risk of developing certain chronic pain disorders and experience more intense pain than non-smokers. Quitting smoking and reducing your exposure to secondhand smoke can be beneficial to your overall health and your chronic pain.

7. Keep track

Help your doctor give you the best treatment possible by keeping track of your pain. At the end of every day note your pain that day on a scale from one to 10 and what activities you did that day. Bringing this information to your doctor appointments can help your doctor understand your pain and your physical functioning. Better treatment could mean less pain.

8. Massage

Getting a massage can help your chronic pain in a number of ways. Massage can reduce stress which can help you relax mentally as well as physically. Massage also relieves tension in your muscles which can help with pain relief.

9. Diet

What you eat has a massive effect on your health. Making sure you have a well-balanced diet can have a positive effect on your overall health and is important for anyone living with a chronic condition.

10. Distraction

What are you passionate about? What do you like doing? Instead of focusing on your pain, diverting your focus to activities that you enjoy can help distract you from the pain. Not only will they divert your attention but incorporating them into your day-to-day will enrich your life as well.

Fast dial #1000 free from your cell and we’ll get you the support you need.

September 1, 2017 Uncategorized

What is Your Circle of Care?

Your world can be turned upside down in the wake of an accident. The aftermath can cause physical, mental, emotional and financial stress on you and your family that can be very overwhelming.

Navigating the path to recovery can be difficult, so it’s important to reach out to your circle of care, or people that are able to help you with the services you need to get there. Each member of the team plays an important role to get you on your way to recovery – here is a list of the top eight that you should have documented and prepared.

1. Police and EMS

Police

When involved in a serious accident where property is damaged or you are injured (like a traffic accident) it’s crucial to immediately report the accident to police. In addition to tickets they may issue, their reports are detailed and contain valuable information about the details of the accident and the at-fault party. These are important documents if you later need to build a case while seeking the personal or property damages you need

Emergency Medical Services (EMS)

The first responders to your serious injury are usually EMS. They play a key role in providing care to you as soon as possible and are the first step towards your physical care and recovery. They also write detailed reports about your injuries and the medical care provided to you by them, which are useful while building a case for the compensation you need.

2. Social Workers

If you’re seriously injured, those close to you and your caregivers can be affected immensely. Social workers can be a great support to your family or caregivers to help solve problems and cope with the changes that the accident has brought into your life, and the lives of those around you.

3. Insurance

Insurance companies play an important role in your access to the personal or property damages you deserve. While seeking personal or property damages, you will usually be dealing with the insurance company to get the money you deserve.

4. Psychologists and Family Counselors

Personal injury doesn’t only cause physical distress—it can cause mental and emotional stress as well. And it cannot only affect you but those very close to you as well. Reaching out to psychologists and family counselors when needed to help cope and deal with the stress and emotions involved with a personal injury is important for well-being and a smoother road to recovery.

5. Doctors

Doctors provide assessment, treatment and examinations throughout the personal injury recovery journey. It’s important to see a doctor early and let them know about even the smallest injuries or mental stress associated with the accident – follow their instructions for care and go to any necessary follow-up appointments. When interacting with doctors for examinations it’s important to give proper backstories while being very descriptive and showing that the injury you’re experiencing has changed over time and why. Doctors provide many pieces of documentation used during and after your recovery that is important for building your case for the personal damages you need.

6. Registered Nurses

Being in the hospital due to a personal injury can make nurses a key role in the journey to recovery from injury. They provide essential treatment of your injury in addition to education about it.

7. Rehab and Physiotherapy

Accidents can cause a range of personal injuries, some of which physiotherapy or physical rehabilitation provide fantastic treatments for. Physiotherapists can also help with the recovery journey by providing education about the injury and helping enable management of it and it’s symptoms.

8. Personal Injury Lawyers

Personal injury lawyers are there to protect you. They represent you and work hard to get you what you deserve in your journey to recovery.

Dye and Russell works hard to protect your rights and get you the best possible outcome on your claim. We are a dedicated part of your circle of care that makes sure everyone is committed to helping you recover and supporting you every step of the way.

If you have been injured, and need legal assistance, call #1000 on your cell phone for free. We will offer you a free claim assessment.

August 18, 2017 Uncategorized

Liability and the Internet of Things

Who is responsible when automation goes wrong?

Today a lot of the products you depend upon are being put online. From vacuum cleaners and fitness trackers to home thermostats and home security cameras, chances are you probably own at least one of the many connected devices for sale.

But besides small commercial items, more expensive and industrial products are also being added to the Internet of Things. The growing amount of software and connectivity in cars is expanding quickly and full automation looks to be close on the horizon.

Connectivity in all sorts of items can have great benefits. For example, in connected cars benefits can include increased road safety, traffic management and sustainability in operation.

But could your connected devices carry more harm than you think? University of Cambridge professor Ross Anderson explained recently the safety implications of our connected devices in a study Standardisation and Certification of the ‘Internet of Things’.

He found that as the products we rely on for our lives become more technically complex, and more connected, that the current discussion issues around security of these devices will evolve from being mostly a privacy concern into a concern for public safety.

“What we are doing is putting online an awful lot of devices on which people depend for their lives and which can kill people if they go wrong,” says Anderson.

The dangers of software defects, and the vulnerability to cyber attacks can cause concern with those whose lives depend on those products working properly and securely, as issues can cause serious harm, and even death.

Fast dial #1000 free from your cell and we’ll get you the support you need.

July 28, 2017 Uncategorized

How to stay safe while hiking

8 tips to follow while on the trail

Ontario is a great place to go for a hike. From the elevated viewpoints of the Ottawa/Temiskaming Highland Trail to the waterfalls along the Bruce Trail, hiking in Ontario can be an amazing way to see the province.

But while hiking can offer great views it can also be dangerous. Exposing yourself to the elements, getting up close and personal with nature or being ill-prepared for your hike can end in a serious injury.

Here are 8 tips from Kettering Health Network to help you stay safe on your next hike:

1. Plan ahead

If you’re hiking by yourself make sure to let someone know where you’re going and what time you’re expecting to return. If you’re going in a group it’s important to decide on a meet-up location before setting out on your hike, just in case anyone becomes separated from the group.

2. Wear the right clothing

Dress for your hike according to the terrain and the weather. That means proper shoes or hiking boots. As well, it’s important to protect yourself from tick bites by wearing long-sleeved shirts and long pants, which make it easier to see them and brush them off.

3. Teach yourself

Before you step foot on the trail learn how to spot and steer clear of toxic plants like poison oak, sumac or ivy.

4. Pack appropriately

Make sure to bring the essentials like water, food, a map, a compass/GPS, a whistle, a headlamp, a flashlight, a knife or multipurpose tool, insect repellent that includes DEET, sunscreen, sunglasses, rain gear and a first aid kit.

5. Hydrate

While you’re hiking it’s important to drink lots of water. As you hike your body sweats and loses fluid. Failing to drink water while you hike can leave you dehydrated and lead to heat-related issues like heat cramps, heat exhaustion and heat stroke.

6. Choose wisely

Never go off of the established trail and stay out of off-limits areas.

7. Pay attention

Today there are lots of digital distractions that can make their way into your hike. Whether you’re lost in some music, or have your eyes locked on a device, taking focus off of the environment around you (even for a short amount of time) could end in some serious consequences. Not paying attention to where you’re going can cause you to run into something or someone, and could cause you to make a bad step and result in injury. Make sure to keep your focus on the trail.

8. Pace yourself

It is important to not push yourself too hard—especially if you are new to hiking or are not very active. The last thing you want is to end up injured in the middle of the trail.

While you can take all these precautions to stay safe, unfortunately, sometimes you can still become injured on your hike.

If you have been injured, and need legal assistance, call #1000 on your cell phone for free. We will offer you a free claim assessment.

July 21, 2017 Uncategorized

Do I have a concussion?

How to check and know what to do next.

Summer is a great time to be outside soaking up the warm weather and playing sports.

Picking up your favourite game like soccer or football can be great fun, but the fast pace and contact (intentional or unintentional) in these sports means it can be easy to get an injury while playing. A heading mishap or a bad hit could leave you with a concussion.

Reframe Health Lab, an educational health care resource has a guide to help guide you in knowing whether you’ve had a concussion and what to do next:

Concussions:

Concussions are a traumatic brain injury where the brain moves rapidly within the skull, causing bruising. They can be caused by a number of things, from falls to blows, and are followed by symptoms that can affect your physical abilities, thought abilities, emotions, and ability to sleep.

You can have suffered a concussion even if you didn’t lose consciousness, didn’t get a direct hit to the head and didn’t feel symptoms immediately. Getting hit elsewhere on your body can still shake your head and it can take up to 48 hours for symptoms to appear.

Signs and Symptoms:

There are a wide range of symptoms you should look for after a suspected concussion.

Physical symptoms can include headache, pressure in the head, neck pain, nausea/vomiting, dizziness, blurred vision, balance problems, sensitivity to light/noise, fatigue, drowsiness and trouble falling asleep.

There are also mental and emotional symptoms of a concussion including feeling slowed down, feeling in a fog, not feeling right, difficulty concentrating, difficulty remembering, confusion, being more emotional, irritability, sadness and nervousness/anxiousness.

Immediate Steps:

If you suspect you have a concussion you should immediately remove yourself from the game and rest.

If you experience a sudden change in symptoms or have severe headache/neck pain, repeated vomiting, seizure, slurred speech, confusion or unresponsiveness you need to go to the ER immediately because there may be a more serious problem that requires immediate attention.

However, even if you don’t have a sudden change in symptoms it’s a good idea to get a baseline assessment and general advice from a medical professional.

Going forward it’s important to take it easy by limiting stimulation, taking time off of work or school and using a diary to track what you do and how it feels. You can gradually build your activities back to what they were but being honest about how you feel is important as others cannot see that you have a concussion.

Fast dial #1000 free from your cell and we’ll get you the support you need.

June 30, 2017 Uncategorized

5 ways to avoid drowsy driving

How to stay safe while trick-or-treating

What every parent ought to know about bike safety

How to practice self-care as a caregiver

10 small life changes to help reduce chronic pain

Liability and the Internet of Things

How to stay safe while hiking

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