Reno, NV (PRWEB) October 4, 2011–ThinkFirst of Northern Nevada has launched as a not-for-profit organiztion in Reno, Nevada, in an effort to improve brain and spine injury awareness and prevention. 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. 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 of these injuries are preventable. ThinkFirst of Northern Nevada will spearhead education to prevent such injuries.
The ThinkFirst National Injury Prevention Foundation, was first implemented nationally in 1986. The American Association of Neurological Surgeons (AANS) and the Congress of Neurological Surgeons (CNS) initiated its development. Today, the ThinkFirst National Injury Prevention Foundation offers research-validated multi-level educational programs that have reached millions of young people nationally and internationally, has had major influences on public policy initiatives, and continues to expand to reach those most vulnerable to traumatic injuries.
ThinkFirst of Northern Nevada is based in Reno, Nevada. Sherise Smith, MS, PT, CVIS, the Chapter Director, has over 10 years experience in therapy of brain and spine injured patients and works with the organisation Rehab without Walls. The Board of directors includes two neurosurgeons (Jay Morgan, MD from Sierra Neurosurgery Group and Lali Sekhon, MD, PhD, FACS from Nevada Neurosurgery) and two trauma surgeons (Martin Bain, MD and Frieda Hulka, MD, both from Western Surgical Group. Dr. Hulka has particular expertise in pediatric trauma). Also on the board of directors are Marca Alexander, MD, a spinal cord rehabilitation specialist and Cathi Peterson LPN. Both Sherise and Cathi are part of the Brain Injury Association of Nevada as well.
ThinkFirst of Northern Nevada will aim to improve education amongst people living in Reno and it’s surrounds fostering a culture of preventative activities to reduce brain and spine injuries. ThinkFirst of Northern Nevada is a chapter of the ThinkFirst National Injury Prevention Foundation, founded by America’s Neurosurgeons. ThinkFirst of Northern Nevada is a not-for-profit organization and welcomes donations of time and/or money through it’s website.