Think First Program proposed at Nanuet High School

A new program is being considered at . With the amount of head injuries increasing among children, the PTSA recognizes the importance of educating ways to avoid this incidents.

PTSA co-vice president Michelle Mosner arranged for Elaine DeFrancesco to present “Think First.” DeFrancesco is a physical therapist at Helen Hayes Hospital who dedicates her time to teaching others.

“Our main purpose is to teach children to prevent head injuries and spinal cord injuries. The average age that gets injuries are between 16 and 25 years old.” DeFrancesco said. “Car accidents, ATV, motorcycle, drunk driving, violence, even innocent violence like shoving in the hallway, water accidents like diving, are all major causes.”

Think First is a national injury prevention foundation. It is celebrating its 25th year helping to decrease the estimated 500,000 brain/spinal cord injuries that occur every year.

“Schools can incorporate the program into health class or gym class. I’ve done assemblies. It’s better with smaller groups. I like to leave 5 to 10 minutes at the end for questions. That’s when the students get to interact,” she continued. “They can ask anything they want, from how to go to bathroom, to sexual stuff. As long as it’s appropriate, we answer.”

Currently first and second graders are scheduled to have Think First demonstrations at their school. The program for younger children is modified to the age group.

“I bring patients with me. I bring my fiance. He’s in a wheelchair from a motorcycle accident. We talk about real-life clients in other high schools. My aim is to scare them a little bit. People talk about the emotional effects, like what they can’t do anymore. But we keep it motivational, such as ‘My life was really horrible, but now I’m getting my life back on track’.”

Susan Farece, PTSA member, added her own insight.

“ I had a friend who dove drunk into a pool and hit his head and was paralyzed. His wife couldn’t deal with it and ended up leaving him," Farece said. "It’s out there that it happens to normal people.”

DeFrancesco showed the video that she plays for her sessions, which interviews people who have been injured in these type of accidents, with both how it happened to them and how they deal with it now.

“Think First did a wonderful job researching the psyche and relationships of the age group,” she said. “Also, there’s no cost for the program. We do fundraising at Helen Hayes. We raffle off helmets and other safety equipment.”

The program had a good reception by the PTSA on Tuesday night.

“I would love to have you come in during lab period. We just finished studying the spinal cord in class, “ said Francine Darsa, Nanuet High School biology and chemistry teacher.

“The goal of the PTSA is to bring programs to school. I think we should bring this to the whole school,” said PTSA co-President Nuria Valdivia.

With the end of the year approaching with both prom and graduation, the stakes are often raised.

Final words to remember left by DeFrancesco, “Use your mind to protect your body. Go out. Have fun. Be a kid, but be careful so you’re not here (in rehab for a spinal cord injury).”