There are many things which can cause a head injury, some of which are difficult to avoid (e.g. being hit by falling debris). However, many head injuries are preventable.

Safety precautions to avoid head injuries include:

• Always wear a seatbelt when driving or riding in an automobile. Children should be buckled into an appropriate car seat or booster seat. Seat belts should be worn at an appropriate height, using both the lap belt and shoulder harness, if available.
  
  
• Wear protective head gear when riding a motorcycle or bicycle, or when in-line skating, skateboarding, snowboarding or skiing. The Department of Transport (DOT) recommends that motorcyclists and their passengers wear a DOT certified helmet with a faceguard and protective clothing. Suitable head gear and a mouth guard should also be used when playing contact sports such as football, baseball, boxing or hockey. It is important that helmets are relatively new, in good condition and have not been previously damaged. This could weaken the helmet and make it ineffective in protecting against head injury.
  
  
• Avoid contact with guns or safely store any guns in the house. Guns should always be stored unloaded with the safety lock engaged and, if possible, with an additional trigger lock. They should be contained within a locked box and ammunition should be stored separately.
  
  
• Avoid alcohol and other drugs when operating a vehicle or playing sports. Alcohol impairs cognitive (mental processes) function and may encourage people to take unnecessary risks or act recklessly, thereby increasing the risk of sustaining a head injury.
  
  
• Ensure that the home is safe. Head injuries that are caused by falls (specifically among older people and young children) may be prevented by ensuring that the home is safe. People should be especially concerned with stairways, bathtubs and windows as these are the areas where most falling accidents occur.  In addition, parents of toddlers should take proper steps to childproof the home. For example, padded bumpers should be placed on sharp corners of furniture.