JUNEAU - Today, the Alaska House of Representatives voted unanimously for a resolution proclaiming March of 2021 as Brain Injury Awareness Month in Alaska. House Majority Leader Chris Tuck (D-Anchorage) sponsored House Resolution 7 to raise awareness about the prevalence of brain injuries and to highlight how to prevent these injuries.

“Most of the time, physical injuries are easy to see, but that’s not the case with many brain injuries. They largely go unseen, and too often, they go undiagnosed and untreated. By approving this resolution, the Alaska House of Representatives is raising awareness of an issue that affects the lives of thousands of Alaskans and millions of Americans. I’m hopeful that increased awareness will result in better prevention and more brain injuries being identified and treated, which, in turn, will improve more lives,” Representative Tuck said.

Because many brain injuries are never diagnosed, it is impossible to know how many people are impacted. Still, the Brain Injury Association of America estimates that 12 percent of the population has experienced at least one brain injury. Every 9 seconds, someone in the U.S. sustains a brain injury, and it is estimated that around 800 Alaskans will be hospitalized this year due to a brain injury.

“Accidents happen. That’s a fact of life. However, many of the most common brain injuries can be prevented by wearing a seat belt or strapping on a helmet when biking, snowmachining, or riding an ATV. By designating March as Brain Injury Awareness Month in Alaska, we are trying to focus attention on an issue that can change a person’s life forever in obvious and not so obvious ways,” Rep. Harriet Drummond (D-Anchorage) said.



HR 7 passed the Alaska House of Representatives today, 39-0.

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CONTACT

Mike Mason

Staff to Majority Leader Chris Tuck

Alaska House Coalition

Mike.Mason@akleg.gov

(907) 465-3579