Do you Know the Signs of a Concussion? Pledge to Protect Your Kids

There are 5.3 million Americans — including 350,000 Californians — who are living with traumatic brain injuries (TBI).

TBI can be caused by something as traumatic as a motor vehicle crash or as ordinary as a fall inside the home. And more and more, we're seeing the severity of brain injuries sustained on playgrounds and on the sports field.

The effects of brain trauma can be immediate, such as the severe loss of brain function after a car accident. But the effects are also cumulative, like the emotional disturbances experienced by athletes who have sustained repeated concussions.

Brain injury often goes unnoticed, but the effects are significant. TBI can lead to limited brain function, memory impairment, paralysis, and debilitating mood disorders. More than 50,000 deaths in the U.S. each year are attributed to brain trauma.

March marks Brain Injury Awareness Month, and it's time for every Californian to know the signs of a concussion.

Sign the pledge to learn the signs and get the information you need to help protect you and your loved ones. By sharing the information with a coach, a friend on the sidelines, or someone you love, you just might open someone's eyes to make smart choices about protecting against traumatic brain injury.