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This is the time of year many Utahns tend to accelerate their level of play, as schools provide spring breaks and families head out for a variety of warm weather activities. Sadly, in far too many instances, life-altering accidents take a maiming, if not deadly toll.
Safety and awareness of potential dangers ought to be on all of our minds.
Consider this thought-provoking fact from a new Utah Health Department study: every day in Utah, on average, five people will suffer life-altering injuries to the brain, and at least one person will die from brain trauma.
In most instances, the experts tell us, such injuries result from accidents that are largely preventable.
For example, wear the right helmet for all sports that pose a risk of head injury. When driving down the highway or engaged in risky activities involving mechanized toys, the proper use of safety restraints and recommended protective gear only makes sense.
Innocent children, especially, should be properly secured and protected from needless incidents that could adversely affect them for the rest of their lives.
It's a great time of year to get out and enjoy all that Utah's great outdoors has to offer, but it's also an important time to think of safety.
