Ekso Bionics: Providing Hope through Innovation

Check out the below video to see the amazing work being done at Ekso Bionics. Through technology, the researchers at Ekso are hoping to help those who have lost the ability to walk to reclaim a sense of independence. As Joey Abicca, a 17-year-old who became paralyzed in an accident 3 years ago, describes the equipment, “It’s awesome — I love getting back up, even just standing up straight is awesome.”

Also, click here to read Brian Chen's article about Ekso in The New York Times, "New Breed of Robotics Aims to Help People Walk Again."

Alex Watters's Story of Determination

When Alex Watters was a freshman at Morningside College in Sioux City, Iowa, a diving accident at a friend’s lake house permanently damaged his spine and confined him to a wheelchair. After one year of surgeries and therapy, Alex returned to Morningside to resume his college career. Alex, now 26-years-old and fresh out of graduate school, confides to Roger Martin in this New York Times article that his transition back to school took a lot of courage and brought many challenges. As he describes, “On the physical side, there were no door openers in campus buildings. But perhaps the most significant challenge was psychological. As you can imagine, it took time for me to get comfortable with my new image.” 

While Alex takes Roger on a “wheelchair tour” through his old college campus, he points out these various challenges he faced and the ways he overcame them. He provides an inspirational account of how he refused to let his injury interrupt his life. By persevering in the face adversity, keeping his confidence, and not being afraid to ask for help when needed, Alex proved to himself that he was still capable of accomplishing his life goals.

Follow the below link to read this article and learn more about Alex’s story…

The New York Times: “Campus as Obstacle Course,” by Roger H. Martin

Booster Seat Laws and Safer Children

 

According to a new study published in Pediatrics by researchers at Boston Children’s Hospital, booster seat laws help save children’s lives and prevent serious injuries. The researchers came to this conclusion after analyzing the data surrounding child deaths and injuries in motor vehicle accidents and comparing the numbers among states with booster seat laws and those without them.

As the findings demonstrate:

“Out of 9,848 cases reviewed over a 10-year period, states with booster seat laws for children 4 to 6 had a roughly 20 percent lower rate of death and incapacitating injuries from motor vehicle crashes than states without booster seat laws. States with booster seat laws that extended to 6- and 7-year-olds had a 35 percent decreased rate of death or incapacitating injury (MedicalXpress.com).” 

State booster seat laws lead to the increased and proper use of booster seats for children. Ideally, a seatbelt should lie across a child’s chest and lap and a booster seat for children shorter than 4 feet 9 inches can achieve this. When a booster seat for these children is not used, the belt can position itself across the throat and abdomen which increases the risk of serious injury to the spine and intestines. By following the guidelines of the American Academy of Pediatricians (AAP) and using a booster seat for children from the age of 4 until around 8 or 12 when they are at least 4 feet 9 inches tall, many of these injuries can be prevented.

Do your part and encourage your state to require booster seats in line with the AAP’s recommendations, it can help save a life!

Follow the below link to read the study as published in Pediatrics:

“Booster Seat Laws and Fatalities in Children 4 to 7 Years of Age”

Also, click below to read a summary article on MedicalXpress.com:

“New research suggests standardized booster seat laws could save lives of children.”

New Book Provides Thorough Analysis of Head and Neck Injury...

In his recent book, “Practical Management of Head and Neck Injury,” physician Jeffrey Rosenfeld makes a valuable addition to the literature on head and neck injuries. Rosenfeld, a renowned Australian neurosurgeon and professor, provides an all-encompassing analysis of these injuries from the initial emergency care administered through the long roads of rehabilitation. The text combines Rosenfeld’s own research and 40 years of experience with the work done by experts around the world investigating new and effective treatments.

According to Rosenfeld, “Traumatic brain injury (TBI) is a major global health problem…It is my fervent hope that this book improves the management of head and neck injury at all types of healthcare facilities, including low-income countries where services are sparse and generalists do their best with limited resources.”

We commend him in his effort to help teach health professionals worldwide how to best care for their patients recovering from head and neck injuries. To read about his new book on MedicalXpress.com, click here.

"Safe Storage, Safe Dosing, Safe Kids"

While medications are lifesaving and crucial to maintaining our health, we cannot forget the dangers that they can pose to curious children. According to Safe Kids USA, more than 60,000 kids are treated annually in an ER due to unintentional medication poisoning. That’s an astounding 165 children a day. By staying aware of our medications and ensuring that we follow procedures for safe storage, dosing, and disposal, we can help prevent these accidents from occurring.

For medication safety tips and a comprehensive discussion of this problem, check out Safe Kids’s website and 2012 publication “Safe Storage, Safe Dosing, Safe Kids: A Report to the Nation on Safe Medication.”