Illinois § 1

§ 1.

As used in this Act, unless the context clearly indicates otherwise: (a) "Department" means the Department of Public Health. (b) "Head Injury" means a sudden insult or damage to the brain or its coverings, not of a degenerative nature, which produces an altered state of consciousness or temporarily or permanently impairs mental, cognitive, behavioral or physical functioning. Cerebral vascular accidents, aneurisms and congenital deficits are excluded from this definition. (c) "Spinal cord injury" means an injury that occurs as a result of trauma, which involves spinal vertebral fracture, or where the injured person suffers any of the following effects: (1) effects on the sensory system including numbness, tingling or loss of sensation in the body or in one or more extremities; (2) effects on the motor system including weakness or paralysis in one or more extremities; (3) effects on the visceral system including bowel or bladder dysfunction or hypotension. (d) "Council" means the Advisory Council on Spinal Cord and Head Injuries. (Source: P.A. 86-510.)