ThinkFirst

Each year, ThinkFirst estimates 500,000 people sustain brain and spinal cord injuries in the United States. The most frequent causes of these injuries are motor vehicle crashes, falls, violence and sports and recreation accidents - especially diving. Children and teens are at high risk for these injuries, many of which can be prevented.

ThinkFirst, the National Injury Prevention Program’s award winning public education effort, targets this high risk age group. The ThinkFirst program acts to educate young people about personal vulnerability and risk taking. The message of ThinkFirst is that you can have a fun-filled, exciting life, and you can do this without hurting yourself if you “ThinkFirst” and use your mind to protect your body. ThinkFirst estimates that more than eight million young people have heard the ThinkFirst message.

ThinkFirst programs are under way in communities throughout the United States, and The Pineywoods Chapter of ThinkFirst is currently promoting its public education program in the East Texas area. Locally, Nacogdoches Medical Center is a major corporate sponsor of ThinkFirst.

About ThinkFirst Programs

ThinkFirst For Kids - This comprehensive injury prevention program is designed to help young children develop lifelong safety habits to minimize their risks of sustaining brain, spinal cord and other traumatic injuries. The program targets children in grades 1-3 and covers six main topics: introduction to the brain and spinal cord anatomy; vehicle, water, bicycle, sports and recreational safety; as well as safety around weapons and creative problem-solving. The program aims to educate students about activities that place them at risk, while teaching them ways to stay safe. The learning experience is fun, yet meaningful.

ThinkFirst For Teens - This unique community outreach program targets junior high and high school students with the powerful injury prevention message that states, "Use your mind to protect your body." The program presentation elements include: The On the Edge video, an age-appropriate video documenting the seriousness of high-risk behaviors and young people's susceptibility to them; a lesson describing the brain and spinal cord anatomy and physical results of injury; a motivational speech by a person, often a teen or young adult, who has sustained a permanent spinal cord or traumatic brain injury; and a discussion about bystander do's and don'ts. Reinforcement activities are often conducted as follow-ups to presentations.

ThinkFirst Can Make a Difference

Prevention messages like those taught by ThinkFirst can have an impact. For more information about the ThinkFirst program offered locally, contact Phil Anderson, program coordinator, at 936-568-3467.

The Pineywoods Chapter of ThinkFirst would like to thank Nacogdoches Medical Center for its corporate sponsorship and sharing the ThinkFirst message and mission on this webpage.