The effort to draw attention to the serious issue of brain injury is supported by leading neurosurgeons across Canada. “The recent concern about concussion in hockey is one example of the need to focus on prevention,” says Dr. Charles Tator, neurosurgeon and founder of ThinkFirst Canada. “Injury is the leading killer of Canadian children and youth and more than half of these deaths are from brain injury. Surgery is not the main solution to serious brain injury. We cannot restore damaged brain tissue. Prevention is the only cure.”

Brain Day is a hands-on, half-day program presented in classrooms from coast to coast. It shows students how their brains work, what happens when the brain is damaged and how they can protect themselves from a brain injury. Classrooms become laboratories as students conduct scientific experiments on the five senses. The program is delivered by hundreds of ThinkFirst Canada volunteers and student presenters from universities across Canada.

Whether students are in the classroom for a Brain Day presentation, or outside enjoying March Break this week, “ThinkFirst reminds children and parents that the brain is fragile,” says Rebecca Nesdale-Tucker, executive director of ThinkFirst Canada. “When kids are playing hockey, biking or tobogganing, it’s vital that we get them to adopt life-saving injury prevention habits, including wearing a properly fitted helmet. Prevention doesn’t mean hibernation. It means getting trained, wearing the gear, and using your brain to navigate risks.”

ThinkFirst Canada has created new fact sheets to help kids and parents prevent catastrophic injury during numerous sport and recreational activities. To download safe sport tips, including a new hockey fact sheet, and to learn more about the work of ThinkFirst Canada visit thinkfirst.ca.

ThinkFirst Canada is a national, charitable organization dedicated to preventing brain and spinal cord injury. Founded in 1992 by renowned neurosurgeon, Dr. Charles Tator, ThinkFirst Canada continues to be an injury prevention leader encouraging children and youth and those who care about them to be active and safe. ThinkFirst advocates for proven injury prevention strategies including helmet use. At the heart of ThinkFirst Canada are 19 Chapters that stretch across the country. ThinkFirst’s injury prevention message is promoted through TD ThinkFirst for Kids, sport programs, schools, community presentations, concussion education and with the help of VIPs (Voices for Injury Prevention), a dedicated group of injury survivors who share the message that prevention is the only cure.

For further information: Media Contacts: Deirdre Dimitroff, (416) 915-6565 x 225, Deirdre@thinkfirst.ca; Rebecca Nesdale-Tucker x 224, Rebecca@thinkfirst.ca

About ThinkFirst Brain Day

ThinkFirst Brain Day is a fun hands-on half-day program that incorporates lessons on neuroanatomy into injury prevention education for grade five students.

Volunteers from ThinkFirst Chapters, schools and universities across Canada in neuroscience, education, nursing and medical faculties help to bring our programs to classrooms across Canada.

ThinkFirst has launched a number of new fact sheets for Brain Awareness Week. For safe sport tips, including a new hockey fact sheet, visit thinkfirst.ca.

ThinkFirst Brain Day is funded in part by generous donations from Krembil Foundation and Medtronic Foundation. Thanks to TD for generous funding of the TD Think First for Kids program.

About brain injury

Injury is the leading killer of Canadian children and youth. More than half of these deaths are from brain injury. Each severe brain injury costs our health system almost half a million dollars at the time of injury and continues to cost the same amount every following year in health and social costs.

Concussion in sports and recreation has recently become a major health issue in many countries because it is now widely recognized that a concussion is a brain injury. Repeated concussions can lead to long term disability.

Research shows that 90 per cent of injuries are predictable and preventable. For example bike helmets can prevent up to 88 per cent of brain injuries when worn properly. It’s estimated that each dollar invested in a helmet saves 30 dollars in social costs.

About ThinkFirst Canada

ThinkFirst Canada works to reduce traumatic brain and spinal cord injuries sustained by children and youth - through education, advocacy and work with research partners.

ThinkFirst Canada was founded in 1992 by renowned neurosurgeon, Dr. Charles Tator. He wanted to reach kids and youth before they landed on the operating table. ThinkFirst Canada has a small team of professional staff and 19 Chapters across Canada led by volunteer neurosurgeons, nurses, injury survivors, educators and coaches.

ThinkFirst Canada develops its educational programs – like ThinkFirst Brain Day and the TD ThinkFirst for Kids program– with a team of doctors, neuroscientists and educators, based on the most recent research in injury prevention. The aim of our programs is to empower kids, and those who care for them, to make smart choices.

ThinkFirst Brain Day is endorsed by our colleagues in prevention including the Brain Injury Association of Canada, Safe Kids Canada and SMARTRISK.