ThinkFirst Injury Prevention Program

Each year, an estimated 500,000 persons in the United States sustain a brain or 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! The ThinkFirst National Injury Prevention Foundation's award-winning, evidence-based programs are aimed at helping people learn to reduce their risk for injury.

ThinkFirst programs educate young people about their personal vulnerability and the importance of making safe choices. The message is: You can have a fun-filled, exciting life, without hurting yourself if you "ThinkFirst." Buckle up. Drive safe and sober. Avoid violent situations. Lower your risk of falling. Wear a helmet. Check the water before you dive. Use your mind to protect your body.

Hennepin County Medical Center has been the state chapter for Minn. for 16 years. We have speakers who can share their personal stories of how they sustained their spinal cord injuries. Their talks are tailored for high schools and driver’s education classes in Hennepin County. We also have access to ThinkFirst for Kids (grades K-3) and youth (grades 4-6), which teachers can utilize in their classrooms. For more information on ThinkFirst, go to www.thinkfirst.org or contact Julie Philbrook @ julie.philbrook@hcmed.org, or 612-873-8500.

For more information on Hennepin County Medical Center's Trauma Prevention program, contact

coordinator Julie Philbrook at (612) 873-8500, or julie.philbrook@hcmed.org

See what Hennepin County Medical Center is doing to help prevent falls in older adults!