Preventing Spinal Cord Injury

The following prevention tips are from the Center for Disease Control and the Spinal Cord Injury Information Network.

In the Car

• Wear a seat belt every time you drive or ride in a car.
• Buckle children into a child safety seat, a booster seat, or a seat belt, as appropriate for their age.

At Home

• Keep firearms and ammunition locked in a cabinet or safe.
• Use a step stool with a grab bar to reach objects on a high shelf.
• Install handrails on stairways.
• Install window guards to protect young children.
• Use safety gates at the top and bottom of stairs when young children are around.

At Play

• Wear all required safety gear when playing sports, and make sure your children do.
• Never engage in head first moves such as spearing or sliding headfirst into a base.
• Avoid hitting the boards with your head in ice hockey.
• Insist on spotters when doing new or difficult moves in gymnastics.