Archive for March, 2014

210,000 Floridians of all Ages Living with a Brain Injury – Are You Next?

Posted on: March 27th, 2014 by BrevardBlogger No Comments

Brevard Medical Equipment recognizes March as Brain Injury Awareness Month. What do you know about brain injury and how can it impact your life?

First of all, what is a traumatic brain injury?  A TBI is defined as an injury to the brain that is caused by a rapid acceleration or deceleration of the head causing the brain to move inside the skull, a blow or jolt to the head or a penetrating head injury that disrupts the normal function of the brain. This can be anything from a concussion, to a severe injury, all the way to an injury that ends in death.

The newest classification of brain injury is called the Acquired Brain Injury or ABI. An ABI refers to an injury to the brain that has occurred after birth and is not hereditary, congenital or degenerative and includes strokes, aneurysms, encephalitis and other brain related diseases.  ABI and TBI are similar and often used interchangeably. No matter what terms used or how the injury occurs, the results are very similar and very serious. The most common areas affected are in thinking and cognition, speech, short-term memory loss, physical issues like walking and swallowing, and emotional control.

How prevalent are these types of “brain insults”? There are an estimated and 100,000 Floridians who experience brain injury each year and 1.7 million brain injuries every year in this country. Many of these injuries have life-long consequences and lead to permanent disability. In Florida alone, there are 210,000 people of all ages living with a brain injury.

Brevard Medical Equipment carries many products in our online catalog to promote safety and to aid those that are living with brain injuries.  See us for walkers, wheelchairs and rehabilitation equipment.

If you or someone you care about is living with a brain injury in Florida, contact the Brain Injury Association of Florida today at 800-992-3422.

Understanding and Living with Multiple Sclerosis

Posted on: March 7th, 2014 by BrevardBlogger No Comments

March is Multiple Sclerosis Education & Awareness Month and Brevard Medical Equipment wants everyone to be more aware of this disease.

How common is Multiple Sclerosis? According to recent numbers, over 200 people in the United States are diagnosed with MS every week.  Nationwide there are 350,000 to 500,000 people who have been diagnosed with MS. That is a lot of people, but when you are the person diagnosed or someone who loves them, it’s easy to feel alone.

While there are many common symptoms that go with Multiple Sclerosis, they vary person-to-person and then to a great degree. It’s wise to note that the person who is diagnosed may react very differently to the news than another person, and will need time to really get their head around the situation. The National MS Society knows that no two people are alike and the responses you receive from them may vary greatly.

What do you do if you are diagnosed and when do you tell people? The National MS Society offers these recommendations and only when you are ready:

•          Start with family members – Telling them about your MS is the best way to rally the support you need to begin the coping process. Allow them their fears and feelings too.

•          Tell your friends – Even in this social media and texting society, this is the kind of news that is best told in person or over the phone to allow for questions and feelings. Avoid posting it for the world to see and tell your friends and family not to post it either.

•          Tell your employer- they will probably have noticed something is wrong, but telling them will clear up confusion. The people you work with may have seen you stumble, slur words or seem to be tired at work and may have drawn their own conclusions. Having MS may affect your job due to physical limitations. Hopefully, your company has a human relations associate who can help you. Learn what you can about your rights under the Americans with Disabilities Act (ADA) and how that can help you.

You can also tell and trust the home medical professionals at Brevard Medical Equipment Supplies. Our staff is here to help you find the equipment you may need including lift chairs, walkers and wheelchairs.