ThinkFirst
"Each year, an estimated 1.7 million persons in the United States sustain a brain injury, and 12,000 - 20,000 sustain a spinal cord injury. In fact, injury is the leading cause of death among children and teens. The most frequent causes of these injuries are motor vehicle crashes, violence, falls, sports and recreation. The good news is that most injuries are preventable!" National Injury Prevention Foundation/ThinkFirst Foundation
ThinkFirst is an injury prevention program that is offered free to schools (grades K-12) and community groups such as clubs, scout troops, and health fairs, etc. The program is taught by a physical therapist from Gaylord Hospital and addresses the ways to prevent injury when participating in age-specific activities, such as bicycle safety for elementary students and drinking and driving for high school students. An important focus is helping students understand the impact of brain and spinal cord injuries and how they can be prevented.
- The program can be done in a variety of settings.
- The presentation is about 30 minutes for elementary students and 45 to 60 minutes for older students.
- ThinkFirst incorporates active learning through demonstrations, videos (as appropriate), an injury survivor who talks about living with his or her injury such as a spinal cord injury, and a Q & A session.
ThinkFirst is sponsored by Gaylord Specialty Healthcare and the National Spinal Cord Injury Association, Connecticut Chapter. For more information or to schedule the ThinkFirst Program for your school, classroom or community group:
Email: Thinkfirst@gaylord.org or call Erin Prastine, Inpatient Therapy at (203) 284-2875
ThinkFirst: Program Overview
ThinkFirst: Elementary Program
ThinkFirst: High School Program