about us

ThinkFirst Nova Scotia Chapter is a hospital-based injury prevention program in the Division of Neurosurgery at the QEII Health Sciences Centre, directed by Dr. Simon Walling (Neurosurgeon) and coordinated by Lynne Fenerty (Nurse).

For more information please visit:
Visit the ThinkFirst Canada website www.thinkfirst.ca
Neuro web site http://neurosurgery.medicine.dal.ca/programs.htm

what's new

Be Visible and 'Think First' on Safe Communities Day! ThinkFirst Canada is very proud to partner with Canada's leading injury prevention organizations to reduce injury and make a long-term, significant impact on the health of communities across the country and on the lives of individual Canadians. As this new national campaign launches, ThinkFisrt Canada encourages Canadians to Be Visible and to 'Think First' on Safe Communities Day. The be Visible collaboration challengeds Canadians to mobilize to fully address the devastating toll personal injury has on Canadians as well as acknowledge the burden of preventable suffering inflicted on our economy and quality of life as a nation. ThinkFirst Canada and Nova Scotia are please to be visible in preventing injuries in collaboration with Safe Communities Canada, SMARTRISK, Safe Kids Canada and the Canadian Red Cross. Personal injury in Canada is one of the most serious public health issues facing our country. Preventable injury remains the leading cause of child and youth death and disability in Canada. The annual economic cost of injury in Canada is 19.8 billion dollars. Head injuries are among the most serious of these injuries and prevention is the only cure. The good news is that most of the injuries are preventable, and that injury prevention programs are beginning to work. ThinkFirst works to heighten the public's awareness of the devestating impact brain and spinal injuries have on a family, community, and the country as a whole. We encourage Canadians to 'think first' by implementing injury prevention and reduction strategies in their everyday life.

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what we do

We respond to many community and professional groups' requests for presentations on brain and spinal cord injury prevention, concussion management and helmet programs. We adapt our programs to suit our audience, and present to everyone from preschoolers through to the golden ages. We partner with many Injury Prevention groups in Nova Scotia to deliver of ThinkFirst programs including:

• Nova Scotia Trauma Advisory Council (NSTAC)
• Helmet Safety Action Committee (HSAC)
• Office of Health Promotion and Protection
• Partners in Policing (HRM /RCMP)
• Canadian Paraplegic Association (CPA)
• IWK Child Safety Link
• Brain Injury Association of Nova Scotia ( BIANS)
• Canadian Ski Patrol
• Nova Scotia School Board

success stories

• In spring of 2009 ThinkFirst Nova Scotia together with Dalhousie University visited 15 grade nine classrooms with Brain Awareness and Injury Prevention presentations.
  
• In spring of 2009, the Division of Neurosurgery at Queen Elizabeth II Health Sciences Centre teamed up with Aviva Canada to promote the use of helmets in skating at ice rinks and at schools.
• In 2007-2008 we partnered with the Nova Scotia Office of Health Promotion and Protection and received additional resources for the delivery of Nova Scotia's Helmet Initiative. This initiative included increasing education, awareness and enforcement of Nova Scotia's helmet legislation.
• The Division of Neurosurgery Injury Prevention Program was also selected by the Office of Health Promotion and Protection to research sport and recreational activities that are not currently included in the helmet legislation and prepare a policy paper that proposes recommendations for Nova Scotians based on this current research.
• We were also very pleased by the success of our new partnership with AVIVA Canada. The keen AVIVA volunteers helped us reach many more community members with the ThinkFirst/ AVIVA injury prevention message. They made a fabulous float for the Parade of Lights, and with the help of Ski Patrol Canada, many people received the winter helmet message.

accomplishments

• The paper titled: "Non-Legislated Sport and Recreation Helmet Policy Paper for Nova Scotia" has been submitted for acceptance by Health Promotion and Protection.
• In partnership with Department of Health and Protection we've implemented a helmet rewards/ helmets for famalies of need program with RCMP and municipal police in Nova Scotia.
• Our chapter developed the slogan: "Helmets work... What a perk!"
• We reached roughly 110,875 people in 2007! We saw 1800 kids through school presentations; 650 community members and professionals through our concussion programs; 2075 people came to see us and our display at community events; we issued 5500 helmet rewards and 800 helmets to children in need; and our float in the Parade of Lights reached 100,000 not including East Link television coverage.
• ThinkFirst Nova Scotia also secured funding from the Nova Scotia Department of Health Promotion and Protection and ThinkFisrt/AVIVA Canada.

fundraising initiatives

ThinkFirst/ AVIVA cookbooks, $10.00 each available at community events.

We're thrilled by donations of any size. Help us spread the ThinkFirst message! Please donate to the Nova Scotia chapter by clicking here, be sure to note in the instructions that funds are to be directed to the Nova Scotia chapter. Alternatively, you can send a cheque care of the National Office at Suite 314-750 Dundas St. W, Toronto, ON, M6J 3S3. Please note on your cheque that the donation should be directed to the Nova Scotia Chapter. You can also send donations to the QEII Foundation "Neurosurgery Injury Prevention Program" at the contacts listed below.

advisory board

Dr. Simon Walling, Neurosurgeon, Director ThinkFirst Nova Scotia
Lynne Fenerty, R.N, Coordinator ThinkFirst Nova Scoatia
Mary Hickey, Aviva Canada
Brenda Rafuse, Aviva Canada
Jennifer Roberts, Health Promotion, ThinkFirst
Joe Lively, BIANS, VIP, ThinkFirst
Randy Reede, CPA, VIP, SCIP/ThinkFirst
Paula Dunn, RN
Ginette Thibeaut - Halman, R.N.
Rayleen Murphy, R.N.