What happens when a small non-profit organization, based on the Navajo Nation, joins forces with a statewide New Mexico advocacy council and both groups are committed to reducing preventable brain injuries in young people? Four hundred and one elementary school children get fitted with their own certified safety helmets and taught how to “think first and use their minds to protect their bodies.”
For the past two days, with a focus on “March is Brain Injury Awareness Month,” health educators from ThinkFirst Navajo’s injury prevention program and the NM Brain Injury Advisory Council have been teaching students, in grades Pre-K to 5, at the Turpen Elementary School in Gallup, NM, the importance of protecting their heads with properly sized safety helmets when riding on bikes, horses, skate-boards, off-road vehicles or participating in other sports like rodeos, football and skiing.
In exchange for receiving helmets donated by New Mexico’s Brain Injury Advisory Council, each student was required to pledge that they would “always wear a bike helmet, on every ride, near or far, fast or slow” and would “promise to remind their friends and family to wear a helmet also.”
Each of the 401 participants also received an educational activity book introducing students and their parents to the importance of promoting safety helmet use from an early age.
Most of the smiling students enthusiastically thanked the sponsoring organizations including classroom photos and signatures from each student.
“One grateful kindergarten student said: “I told my mommy I needed to wear a helmet when I ride my bike, but she said she couldn’t afford to buy me one. Now, I can be safe.”
According to the National Highway Traffic Safety Administration, a properly fitted bicycle (safety) helmet can reduce the risk of serious head and brain injury by as much as 85%. Of course, the helmet only works if it is actually worn, is the right size and secured properly.
“Educating students at a young age about bicycle helmet safety is important so they establish a habit of wearing a helmet,” said Monica Montoya, coordinator of the NM Brain Injury Advisory Council.
“Brain injury can happen to anyone at anytime, most of us just don’t think it can happen to us, but the reality is that it can,” said Barbara Crowell Roy, president and program manager of Eve’s Fund for Native American Health Initiatives. Statistics show that “every 7 minutes someone in the US dies of a brain injury.” Our ThinkFirst Navajo educational program is build around the premise that “prevention is the only cure for brain and spinal cord injuries.”
“Young school children are especially at high risk,” added Jodee Dennison, director of Eve’s Fund’s injury prevention program—ThinkFirst Navajo. “A child’s brain is still developing, so they are at increased risk for injury and can take longer to recover.”
The Brain Injury Alliance of Utah reports that: “1 million children sustain brain injuries every year ranging from mild to severe and this number is approximately one-third of all reported childhood injury cases. This public health concern ranks as the leading cause of death and disability in children and adolescents in the United States.” Please visit their website to learn more important facts related to traumatic brain injuries.
At the end of the two-day educational sessions and helmet distribution, Cynthia Mowrer, Turpen Elementary principal said: “We are grateful that our school was chosen to participate in this important injury prevention initiative. In an effort to keep our children from harm, all of our teachers and staff are making a commitment to reinforce what the kids learned this week and will keep reminding the kids “that they only have one brain and one body and need to always stay safe.”
New Mexico Brain Injury Advisory Council, a program of the NM Governor’s Commission on Disability, promotes prevention and increased public awareness to decrease the incidence of preventable brain injuries. Meet some New Mexico residents and hear their personal injury stories here. Contact the council if you are interested in having a bicycle helmet distribution at your school or community event. (505) 476-7328
The New Mexico Governor’s Commission on Disability’s mission is to improve the quality of life of all New Mexicans with disabilities by addressing social integration, economic self-sufficiency, political resolve, physical and program accessibility, and full participation in the benefits of life and rights of all individuals.
ThinkFirst Navajo, a major program of Eve’s Fund for Native American Health Initiatives, is one of 192 chapters of the ThinkFirst National Injury Prevention Foundation and the only one serving a federally recognized Indian Reservation. If you live on or near the Navajo Nation in Arizona, New Mexico, or Utah and would like to schedule a free injury prevention presentation at a school, conference, chapter house or other event, please contact director Jodee Dennison through Eve’s Fund at: Contact Us.
Eve’s Fund and our ThinkFirst Navajo program is honored to have worked with the New Mexico Brain Injury Advisory Council on this important injury prevention initiative, especially during March—“Brain Injury Awareness Month.”
Best of all, was seeing 401 smiling faces and knowing that someday, somewhere, our efforts could prevent a traumatic injury or save a young life.
