Kindergarteners learn to be "BrainMinders"

In conjunction with Traumatic Brain Injury Awareness Month, Upper Providence Elementary School kindergarten students learned about the various ways to protect their heads from harm during a March 14 program called "BrainMinders - Protecting Your Brain For Life."

Sponsored by Pilot International, the program teaches young children the importance of wearing helmets, using car seats, playing safely on the playground, and looking both ways  before crossing the street. Stuffed animals like Gerald Giraffe, Penny Panda, Fiona Fox, Martin Monkey and Wise Old Owl were brought to life by presenter Trudy Houck to convey safety tips for protecting the head and brain. Her program wrapped up with a song that incorporates all the safety rules, and students received activity booklets reinforcing the rules.

Ms. Houck is a retired teacher who belongs to the Valley Forge Pilot Club chapter, and she will be bringing the "BrainMinders" program to students in other Spring-Ford Area School District's elementary schools. Yesterday, another presenter, Phyllis Snyder, delivered the "BrainMinders" program at .

Pilot International, a volunteer service organization based in Georgia, started the "BrainMinders" program in September 2001 to reduce the prevalence of brain injuries. According to the Centers for Disease Control, every 20 seconds someone in the United States incurs a brain injury.

"We are pleased to present this program to our young students so that they learn from a very young age how important it is to take responsibility for their own safety," said Certified School Nurse Debbie Zelle, who is the Department Head of Spring-Ford Area School District's Health Services. "We hope the messages delivered by the BrainMinder Buddies will stick with our students for a long time and help protect them from serious injuries."

Patch thanks the Spring-Ford Area School District for this press release.