Winter 2003

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A Publication of Think First National Injury Prevention Foundation

A Letter From the CEO Dorothy ZirkleThink First Granted an $800,000Government Award!I am absolutely elated to report that the Think FirstNational Injury Prevention Foundation was chosen bythe US Department of Transportation’s NationalHighway Traffic Safety Administration (NHTSA) as themost highly qualified national organization to partnerwith them in conducting a 3-year demonstration projectto increase booster seat usage among 4 to 8 year-old chil-dren. In the following paragraphs you will find a briefexplanation of why NHTSA is embarking upon thisstudy and how Think First intends to help them.

- Dorothy Zirkle, CEOThe ProblemThough much progress has been made in theuse of child passenger safety seats for childrenages 4 and under, according to preliminarystudies there exists an alarming number ofolder child passengers who are either inade-quately restrained or completely unrestrained,leading to disturbing increases in childhooddeath and disability.

Therefore, in 2000 Congress enacted the TREADact, which mandated that NHTSA “…develop a5 year strategic plan to reduce deaths andinjuries caused by failure to use the appropriatebooster seat in the 4 to 8 year old age group by25 percent.” See the websitehttp://www.nhtsa.dot.gov/CPS/booster_seat/National_Strategy/index.htm

The SolutionIn response to this mandate, NHTSA invited avery select number of national injury preven-tion organizations to apply for funding to assistin this effort. The Think First Foundation gladlyaccepted NHTSA’s invitation as a uniqueopportunity to craft an eloquent and impres-sive, yet scientifically sound, research-basedproposal to conduct a comprehensive national3-year study of booster seat usage and ways inwhich it can be increased.

The MethodologyThe Think First Foundation’s proposal outlines aprogram, aptly titled “Boost ‘em Up”, that will uti-lize the talents and resources of 4 highly com-mitted national chapters and build upon thestrength of their existing relationships withchildren, teachers, schools, and parents to eval-uate the effectiveness of a standardized com-prehensive core of student and school-basedinterventions in conjunction with community

outreach programs to increase the use of boost-er seats for children ages 4 to 8.

The People and PlacesThe study site locations and Site Coordinatorsthat are participating in the 3-year Boost ‘em Up!project are as follows: • Shelly Atkinson, Think First San Diego, CA• Virginia Corrigan, Think First Wilmington, DE• Debby Gerhardstein, Think First Chicago, IL• Bonnie Muntz-Pope, Think First Charleston, SC

The Final ProductThe impact of the interventions will be meas-ured using standardized methodology and willproduce empirical data resulting in recommen-dations for Best Practices. The Think FirstFoundation is proud to participate in thisdemonstration study, which is entirely compati-ble with our mission to decrease childhooddeath and disability through education andadvocacy.

In closing, I am delighted to announce that KelliJankens, State Chapter Director for Think First Michigan,has accepted the position of Project Manager for this proj-ect and has re-located to the National Think FirstFoundation Office in Chicago. For additional informa-tion about the Boost ‘em Up! study, please contact Kelli at(847) 290-8600. Many thanks to all the participantsand supporters who helped make our proposal toNHTSA a success.

- Dorothy Zirkle, CEO

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The mission of Think First National Injury Prevention Foundation isto prevent brain, spinal cord and other traumatic injuries throughthe education of individuals, community leaders and the creatorsof public policy.

The Think First Boost ‘em Up! team, pictured above, on November13, 2003 at the DOT/NHTSA offices in Washington DC. Theteam presented a descriptive overview of the 3-year project toNHTSA and other DOT staff to formally “launch” the project.

From left: Debby Gerhardstein, Peggi Semmins, Dr. Leanna Depue,Virginia Corrigan, Shelly Atkinson, Dr. Michael Turner, DorothyZirkle, Bonnie Muntz-Pope, Dr. Louise Gresham and Kelli Jankens

New Think First ProductsNow Available!

NEW! Think First VideoA modern version of theThink First classic, On TheEdge, this outstanding newvideo is an updated mon-tage of recent VIP inter-views and a look at howtheir lives have changed as

a result of suffering brain or spinal cordinjuries. Targeted at youth and teen groups,the newly titled THINK FIRST VIDEO is avery powerful program enhancement.

New! Think First FolderThe new Think First PressFolder, with glossy finishand vivid images, is anexcellent way to introduceand distribute informationabout your Think FirstChapter. The mission state-ment is printed on the inner left side pock-et, with two perforations on the right sidepocket to hold your business card.

PricingThink First Video: $45 for chapters and

$65 for non-chaptersThink First Folders: sold in packs of 25

$50 for chapters and $62.50 for non-chaptersTo order call the Think First National

Office at (847) 290-8600.

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Think First Oklahoma’sYDD Director, Jamie Popp,accepting the 2003Newcomer’s Award fromBoard Chairman, Dr. Michael Turner.

Oklahoma receives 2003 Newcomers Award fortheir Youthful Drunk Driving (YDD) Programby: Jaime Popp, YDD CoordinatorPamela Forducey, State DirectorThink First Oklahoma

Think First Oklahoma was the recipient of thisyear’s Outstanding Newcomer Award for theirYouthful Drunk Driving program (YDD). Workingvery closely with their local court system, ThinkFirst Oklahoma strives to prevent serious injuriesdue to motor vehicle crashes by providing asentencing alternative for judges and defenselawyers in Oklahoma County. The long-termobjective of this program is to significantlyreduce recidivism, thereby ensuring a substantialreduction in the number of alcohol or druginvolved traffic crashes in Oklahoma County.

To do this, the Oklahoma Chapter has enthusi-astically embraced a partnership with theImpaired Driving Division at NHTSA to incor-porate the Think First message into theYouthful Drunk Driving (YDD) offenders pro-gram. The Think First Oklahoma componentbegins with the “On the Edge” video, followedby experimental role-playing that includes rid-ing in wheelchairs and catheterizing a dummy.The final and most important session is thepersonal testimonies given by our Voices forInjury Prevention (VIP) speakers.

According to the program’s pre/post evalua-tions completed by the participants, the VIPtestimonies are the most powerful aspects ofthe program. Although primary prevention isthe main thrust of Think First, YDD has been anexcellent and unique opportunity for secondaryprevention for Oklahoma high-risk youth whohave been arrested for DUI/DWI. The storiesshared by our participants reveal that our pro-gram is effective and meaningful and hopefullywill alter their future behaviors and decisionsabout not mixing drinking and driving. A totalof 600 defendants have been referred for treat-ment and enrolled in the program sinceOctober of 1999. According to the NationalHighway Traffic Safety Administration’s(NHTSA) Crash Statistics, alcohol-related crasheskilled 17,970 people in 2002, the most fatalitiesin a decade (www.nhtsa.gov).

Think First Hawaiiby: Beth Freitas, RN, MSN & Cheryl Hammond, RN, B.Ed.Co-Chairs, Think First Hawaii

Each year in Hawaii over 2,000 people sustainbrain and spinal cord injuries. After vehiclecrashes, the second highest cause of death anddisability for young people in Hawaii is drown-ing and near drowning events.

With our water-sports based lifestyle, watersafety education is high on our list of priorities.With this in mind Think First Hawaii held abeach event on July 19, 2003 at Sandy’s Beach,one of the islands’ most popular surfing beach-es. The event was supported by volunteers fromthe Think First Hawaii partners: - The Queen’sMedical Center Neuroscience Institute andTrauma Program, HMSA/Blue Cross, BlueShield of Hawaii, Hawaii Department of Health,Keiki Injury Prevention Coalition SAFE KIDSHawaii, Emergency Medical Systems City andCounty of Honolulu, Ocean Safety City andCounty of Honolulu, Hawaiian LifeguardAssociation, Honolulu Police Department,Honolulu Fire Department, and RehabilitationHospital of the Pacific.

Over 100 people,mainly young surfers,came to the ThinkFirst Hawaii tent toreceive information

about ocean safety and injury prevention.Local radio station 101.9 FM provided musicand announcements free of charge. They alsoran competitions with prizes donated by localsurf and water sports retailers. Winners had tosuccessfully answer injury prevention ques-tions. This year’s success ensures that this willbe an annual event.

In addition, Think First Hawaii, in partnershipwith the Hawaii Department of Education, hastranslated the TFFK parental letters into severallanguages, including: Chinese, Japanese,Korean, Vietnamese, Laotian,Samoan, the Filipino dialects ofLlocano, Tagalog, Visayan and theMicrosesion languages Marshaileseand Chuukese.

Welcome New ThinkFirst Chapters!New Local chaptersPhillip Westbrooks, Chandler, AZ(480) 821-3292Renatta Osterdock, MD,Loma Linda, CA (909) 558-4952Pam Roberts & Lorraine Kimura,Los Angeles, CA (310) 423-6660Marylin Johnson, St.Louis, MO (314) 362-9175Deborah Kreun, Las Vegas, NV (707) 614-6703Michelle Pohlman, Lima, OH(419) 998-4490Devanand Dominique, MD,Philadelphia, PA (215) 707-7700Jennifer Edwards, Huntington, WV(304) 526-1281International ChaptersFederico Valencia, MD, Lima, Peru(562) 592-3141 (USA)State chaptersVicki Hill, Birmingham, AL (205) 558-2729Dave Palmisano, Longmont, CO (303) 651-5026Sheri Coleman, Bismarck, ND (701) 223-1385Director ChangesVicki Hill, Birmingham, AL(205) 558-2729Dave Palmisano, Longmont, CO (303) 651-5026Alison Gramza, Savannah, GA(912) 692-2583Colleen Scheibe, Hancock, MI (906) 483-1249Connie Keene & Amy Koestner, Kalamazoo, MI(269) 226-5668Brian Sheridan, Saginaw, MI(989) 497-3153Sharell Questel, Joplin, MO(417) 625-2303Sheri Coleman, Bismarck, ND (701) 223-1385Elizabeth Moore & Vanessa Bori, White Plains, NY(941) 597-2448

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Winter 2003

Arizona State Director Recently Appointed PTA State PresidentThe Think First Foundation is proud toannounce that Lucy Ranus, Arizona StateChapter Director, was recently elected as thenew State President of the Arizona ParentTeacher Association (PTA), a volunteer post shewill hold for two years. The Arizona PTA is partof the National PTA, a non-profit, child-advocacyorganization for parents, teachers and students.

Ranus, a Phoenix native, had her first brushwith the PTA when she was entering highschool. She won a PTA scholarship to help payfor her high school books and supplies at CarlHayden High School. She didn’t know it then,but PTA would become an integral part of herlife. Then, in 1975, when her oldest child wasstarting kindergarten and Ranus wanted toknow what was going on at the school, shejoined the PTA. Lucy jokingly refers to herselfas a “nosy parent.”

Lucy was elected PTA President at BicentennialElementary School in 1976, the year the schoolopened. In 1989, she joined the state PTAboard of directors, serving as the health andwelfare chairwoman. “As a PTA member, youreally get to understand the climate of theschool,” she said. As president of the 27,000-member organization, one goal Ranus is strivingtowards is increasing the number of dads andHispanic parents involved in PTA.

Lucy Ranus, RN, is Program Coordinator ofCommunity Education, Outreach andPrevention at Barrow Neurological Institute inPhoenix Arizona. Lucy has been a Think FirstChapter Director since 1996. She has beenArizona’s State Chapter Director and trainingsite coordinator for several years and is also a newly appointed member of the Think First Board of Directors.Congratulations Lucy!

Field Neurosciences Institute (FNI) Hosts ThinkFirst State Conference in Michiganby: Kelli JankensMichigan Think First State Director

On Friday, August 22, 2003, Michigan ThinkFirst Chapters convened for their first annualstatewide conference. Seventeen Think Firstchapters located throughout Michigan wereinvited to attend the conference, hosted byField Neurosciences Institute, namesake ofsponsoring neurosurgeon, Dr. E. Malcolm Field.

Saginaw Chapter staff Kelli Jankens and BrianSheridan coordinated the event by invitingattendees to share information, create partner-ships, develop new ideas, and meet fellowThink First team members. Special guestspeaker was Jeff Spitzley, Michigan’s SAFE KIDS Coordinator.

The morning business meeting was followed by a luncheon at the Atrium Restaurant indowntown Bay City, graciously hosted by theinstitute’s Executive Director, Dr. Verne D. Hulce.The day culminated with a scenic 3-hour riverboat cruise aboard the Princess Wenonah.

The goal of the conference was to furtherenhance statewide efforts to significantly andsuccessfully reduce the rates of unintentionalchildhood injury and death. Invitations weresent to all chapter and satellite directors, VIP’s,sponsoring neurosurgeons and board or com-mittee members affiliated with Michigan ThinkFirst Chapters.

From left: Blue Cross/Blue Shield of Michiganoperations manager Kathy Harrington andregional sales director Ron Crofoot present acheck for $20,000 to Upper PeninsulaPartnership for Safety (UPPS) board presidentDarrell Dettman and director Karen Teichmanin Marquette, MI. The grant will be used byUPPS to expand their Think First programsinto the cities of Republic, Michigamme,Negaunee, Superior, and Ishpeming. Last year, UPPS brought the Think First mes-sage to over 2,500 students in Houghton,Baraga, Marquette, Iron and Alger counties.

Lucy Ranus, the new state president of theArizona PTA, hopes to get more fathers

and more Hispanics involved.

Prevention Pages

PARTNER IN PREVENTIONPARTNER IN PREVENTION Blues Assist Safety Partnership

Welcome New ThinkFirst Chapters!

cont’dErin Hanson, Cleveland, OH

(216) 844-5723Karen Holland, Knoxville, TN

(865) 541-4943Wendy Dunevant, Danville, VA

(434) 799-2399Kathy La Favor, Milwaukee, WI

(414) 805-5112New Training center

Stephanie Lambers, Cincinnati, OH(513) 745-1742

Some participants of the Think First StateConference in Michigan gather for a photo

beside the riverboat Princess Wenonah.

ThinkFirst Board of Directors

ChairmanMichael Turner, MDIndianapolis, IN Chairperson ElectDavid Cavanaugh, MD Shreveport, LA Past ChairpersonMichael J. Caron, MDHinsdale, IL TreasurerClifton OwensMinneapolis, MNMedical DirectorDavid Cavanaugh, MD Shreveport, LA

Chairmen EmeritusRoy BlackAustin, TXE. Fletcher Eyster, MDSt. Helena, CA

Chief Executive OfficerDorothy L. Zirkle, RN,PHN, MSNSan Diego, CA/Chicago, IL

MembersDavid Adelson, MDPittsburgh, PARussell Amundson,MDHigh Point, NCAndy BalaWestmont, IL Donna CavanaughShreveport, LARoberto de Leo, MDMexico, D.F.Lynn Fitzgerald, MDHouston, TXDebby Gerhardstein,RNCarol Stream, IL Christopher Getch,MDChicago, IL Michelle GiblerColumbia, MOFran InmanCity of Industry, CATheodore R. Jacobs,MDManchester, NH Kelli JankensSaginaw, MI

Lee LarsonPrinceton, NJ Pam LungmusNorthfield, ILChip MalcolmWilkesboro, NCDan Michael, MDDetroit, MILucy Ranus Phoenix, AZ Nena Ray, LPNIndianapolis, IN Andrew SherwoodNew York, NYMariann StraubWinnetka, IL Kelly SullivanChicago, ILCharles Tator, MDToronto, Ontario, CanadaB. Gregory Thompson, MDAnn Arbor, MI Eric TimkoThornwood, NY Donal TobinBoston, MAJack Wilberger, MDPittsburgh, PA

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5550 Meadowbrook DriveSuite 110Rolling Meadows, IL 60008

Phone: 800-THINK-56Fax: 847-290-9005e-mail: thinkfirst@thinkfirst.orgWeb Site: www.thinkfirst.org

Founded by:The American Association ofNeurological Surgeons & Congress of Neurological Surgeons

Prevention Pagesis a free publication of Think First National Injury PreventionFoundation, a non-profit organization,provided for friends, supporters, andThink First chapter personnel.

Editor, Kelli JankensCo-Editors, Diane Bell, Jami Campbell,Sharon Penny, Jennifer Buckel, Dorothy Zirkle

Contributing Authors:Jennifer Buckel, Pamela Forducy, BethFreitas, Cheryl Hammond, Kelli Jankens,Jaime Popp, Lucy Ranus, Karen Teichman,Gigi Thomas, Dorothy Zirkle

Copyright © 2003 by Think First National Injury Prevention Foundation

Prevention Pages ArticlesWanted!

We welcome you to submit an articlefor publication in Prevention Pages.The submission deadline forthe spring 2004 issue isFebruary 29th. Articles should bedirected to kmj@thinkfirst.org andcan be up to 300 words in length. Ifpossible, please try to include at leastone captioned photo with your article.Call (847) 290-8600 for questions.