Vehicle-related accidents are the leading cause of spinal cord injuries, and distraction of some sort is the most common reason for such accidents. Spinal cord injuries can have a long-lasting impact on your quality of life, so it’s worth making an effort to minimize the risk of sustaining one as much as possible when driving. Dr. Bae and his team of expert surgeons at The Spine Institute Center have a few tips for preventing serious spine injuries while driving.
Use a Hands-Free Phone and Avoid Texting
Though California doesn’t completely prohibit cellphone use while driving, the state does require such devices to be hands-free. Using voice-prompts can also prevent the need to quickly touch or press something. Even when nobody is watching to see if you’re texting, avoid the temptation to send a quick reply. Even doing so at a red light can be dangerous because it’s difficult to tell when lights will quickly change. It only takes a few seconds of diversion to get into an accident.
Minimize Music Distractions
Create an mp3 playlist with enough music to prevent the need to fiddle with buttons. Another option is to use a satellite radio service. If you’re just going to listen to the radio, set your station before you start driving.
Do Little Tasks Beforehand
It’s often the little things, like forgetting to put on makeup or fixing a tie, that cause unintended distractions. Run through a checklist in your mind before starting your car, which may include:
- Finishing food you’re in the middle of eating
- Presetting your GPS to prevent frustrations while driving
- Securely placing beverages in the cup holder and using a lid to prevent spills
Often resulting from a sudden traumatic blow, spinal cord injuries affect nearly 20,000 Americans annually. These types of injuries can result in paralysis if the spinal cord is completely severed or severely damaged. With incomplete spinal cord injuries, some sensation or movement may remain below the location of the injury. Spinal cord injuries are usually treated with rehabilitation and spine surgery. Beverly Hills physicians suggest everyone to take care of their spine and avoid any kind of heavy impact.
If you have sustained a serious spine injury due to an auto accident, you may need the minimally invasive spine surgery Beverly Hills surgeons provide. Get in touch with The Spine Institute at 310-828-7757 and we can determine the steps that need to be taken to alleviate your pain.