Actor Gary Busey is lucky to be alive today and he's using his experience to help others understand how to prevent traumatic brain injuries. In 1988, Busey was riding his motorcycle when he slid on a patch of gravel. He flipped over the handlebars and landed headfirst on the pavement, according to this USA TODAY article.
He arrived at the emergency room with a half-dollar-sized hole in his head, and he spent four weeks in a coma. But Busey was lucky -- he survived and has no lasting injury. Others arent so fortunate, though. According to the U.S. Centers for Disease Control and Prevention, more than 5 million Americans currently live with a traumatic brain injury.
Brain injuries can affect people in many different ways. They can cause memory loss, trouble concentrating, impaired judgment, seizures, anxiety, pain, fatigue and depression. A simple task like putting on your shoes can be difficult for people with traumatic brain injury, says the article.
Many traumatic brain injuries can be easily prevented by using a helmet to protect your head. "I want people to understand that life is very important. And that if you're riding a motorcycle, skateboard or bicycle without a helmet, you're challenging the face of death," says Busey.
