Think First Week from May 14-21 Highlights Water Safety

TORONTO - As children across Canada count down to summer holidays and warm weather fun, TD Think First For Kids -- an innovative program spearheaded by one of Canada's leading neurosurgeons and researchers -- launches in schools to raise awareness of brain and spinal cord injury prevention.

During "Think First Week" from May 14-21, children and parents will learn simple, valuable safety lessons that have been proven to protect children against life-altering brain and spinal injuries. From a social and economic standpoint, the costs associated with brain or spinal cord injuries can run as high as $8 million per person depending on the victim's age and the extent of the injury.

"The highest risk group for spinal and brain injuries is young males aged 15 to 25," says Dr. Charles Tator, president of Think First Canada, recent recipient of The Order of Canada (January, 2000) and a leading neurosurgeon and researcher in the field of spinal cord injury and regeneration. "Our research shows that children have little or no knowledge of how injuries occur, and that's the cornerstone of the TD Think First For Kids program. Our Think First approach has been proven to change self-reported risk-taking behavior in children, as safety habits become second nature as a child grows into adulthood."

The program was conceived by the Think First Foundation of Canada. TD Bank Financial Group recently came on board as title sponsor of the Think First For Kids program. Through curriculum-based classroom instruction initiated during Think First Week and continuing to the end of the current school year, children will learn the basics of how to play safe to avoid brain and spinal injuries. The program focuses on Grades 1, 2 and 3 children and includes lesson plans, videos, posters and a variety of fun learning activities.

"Dr. Tator's numbers tell a tragic tale -- there are 37,000 new spinal and brain injuries each year in Canada with at least one third of them occurring in children under 15 years of age," said Meredith Wiens, Associate Vice- President, Community Giving, TD Bank Financial Group. "These dramatic numbers are a key reason why we believe it's so important that TD support Dr. Tator's venture."

As Canadians prepare to head to the water this summer, Dr. Tator offers some simple Think First For Kids safety tips:

• never dive in shallow water
• never run on the dock
• never throw anyone in the water
• always wear a life jacket
• never swim alone
• never swim near boats
• check the water depth before diving

"Think First for Teens" had previously been developed for students in secondary schools. A continuing educational program, it employs a health professional and injury survivor to teach students about brain and spinal cord anatomy, mechanisms of injury and prevention strategies. Think First for Teens targets the use of seat belts, safe driving, biking, water safety and violence prevention. It also addresses appropriate bystander behavior at the scene of an injury.

The devastation that brain and spinal cord injuries can wreak on an individual received higher profile through American actor Christopher Reeve following his tragic fall while horse-back riding several years ago. North of the border, Canadian Rick Hansen is also active in raising awareness of brain and spinal cord injury through the Vancouver-based Rick Hansen Institute. Falls of all kinds, whether it be from a horse or on a playground are a leading cause of injury in young children.

The Think First Foundation of Canada is a national, non-profit injury prevention organization sponsored by Canada's neurosurgeons, neurologists and neuroscience nurses. It is modeled after an injury prevention program originated by U.S. neurosurgeons. Think First Canada was established in 1992 by the Canadian Neurological Society and is endorsed by The Canadian Congress of Neurological Sciences with 22 local chapters across the country.