HEAD INJURY AWARENESS AND APPEAL WEEK TO EDUCATE KIWIS ON DANGERS OF HEAD INJURY AND HOW TO AVOID IT

According to the Head Injury Society of New Zealand, a charitable organisation established in 1981 providing quality disability support services, there is still not enough awareness of the dangers of head injury and how easily it can happen.

To increase understanding of the risks and to educate New Zealanders on how to avoid head injury, the society will be running it’s annual Head Injury Awareness and Appeal Week from June 8th- 15th 2010. The campaign is being organised by the Head Injury Society Waikato.

‘Researchers at Auckland University of Technology estimate head injury incidents as being between 18,000 and 26,000 per year,’ explains Joan Limmer, Manager at the Waikato Head Injury Society. ‘We would really like to see that number come down and hope that by telling people a little more about the condition and how to prevent it from happening, we can go a small way towards doing that.’

Joan hopes that the educational campaign will help people realise the serious impact a head injury can have on a person’s life.

‘The majority of people with head injuries are not able to work fulltime again as they suffer from short term memory, fatigue and problems with their balance,’ Joan explains. ‘It can be incredibly frustrating as they simply can’t do the things that they used to do.’

‘People also need to understand that it can happen to anybody,’ she adds. ‘This year, we are focusing heavily on individuals playing sport as that is where a huge chunk of head injuries are sustained. Horse riders and cyclists must wear a helmet to protect their heads. Those involved in sports such as soccer and rugby are also susceptible. The key message is to always be careful and never become complacent.’

During Head Injury Awareness and Appeal Week, The Head Injury Society will have stands at supermarkets across the Waikato region, offering educational information to passers by. Banners have been erected in Hamilton and Cambridge.

Saddlery stores, Stirrups Equestrian and Saddlery Warehouse, have also offered their support and will be offering significant discounts on new riding helmets throughout the week, to encourage horse riders to wear protection when participating in their sport.

For more information on the Head Injury Society of New Zealand, visit their website by clicking this link.

FORMER INTERNATIONAL MODEL LAUNCHES CAMPAIGN TO INCREASE AWARENESS OF HEAD INJURIES IN NEW ZEALAND

On Friday 21st May, former international model and head injury victim, Elizabeth Charleston, launched THINK! The Head Injury Network for Kiwis, to increase awareness about head injuries and to provide support to those dealing with the condition.

THINK! was created in partnership with the Waikato branch of the Head Injury Society of New Zealand and ties in with The Head Injury Awareness and Appeal Week which runs from June 8th- 15th 2010.

‘New Zealand has a higher rate of head injuries than many other countries in the world with researchers at Auckland University of Technology estimating incidents between 18,000 and 26,000 per year,’ explains Elizabeth. ‘One of the main messages I want to get across to people through THINK! is that anybody can suffer a head injury.

‘I would also like to break down some of the attitudes that people have towards head injury victims and the stigma that is attached. Often, even after a sufferer has started to accept that they have a head injury, the people around them do not know how to deal with the changes to their personality and abilities. This has got to change.’

THINK! encourages people to use safety-approved head protection when playing sport or taking part in potentially dangerous activities, such as climbing, horse riding and cycling, and at work when the circumstances or activity being undertaken puts the user’s head at risk.

‘When you get into a car a person instinctively puts on their seat belt. The same level of self preservation should apply. It’s about reducing the risk and improving safety,’ says Elizabeth.
Elizabeth has also launched a campaign to coincide with the Head Injury Awareness & Appeal Week in June that gives equestrians a discount on safety riding helmets at Saddlery Warehouse and Stirrups Equestrian.

For more information on the Head Injury Society of New Zealand, visit their website by clicking here.

THINK! has a Facebook Page at http://www.facebook.com/#!/pages/THINK-The-Head-Injury-Network-for-Kiwis/378242020990?ref=ts