Press Releases

Conemaugh Health System's injury prevention program featured in national publication

Johnstown, PA (September 15, 2005) - The ThinkFirst for Kids program through Conemaugh Health System's Office of Community Health was highlighted in the August, 2005, issue of Journal of Emergency Nursing.

ThinkFirst for Kids is a six-week comprehensive brain and spinal cord injury prevention program that has been presented in all of the 28 public and private schools in Cambria County.

"This is a critical program in this area, because we see such a high occurrence of these types of injuries," says Donna Erickson Wehner, RN, CEN, Public Health Program Coordinator, Office of Community Health, Conemaugh Health System. "And since the program started in 2001 our Level 1 trauma center has seen a decline in cases like these."

Wehner along with Lori Sutton, MA, CHES, a Public Health Analyst at the Office of Community Health, co-authored the article.

The ThinkFirst for Kids program is implemented by the Office of Community Health's Child and Adolescent Health and Wellness Council and covers topics such as vehicular and pedestrian safety in addition to bike, water and sports safety.

Journal of Emergency Nursing includes articles authored and peer-reviewed by nurses concerning the clinical, professional, political, administrative, and educational aspects of emergency nursing.

TFFK Article in Journal of Emergency Nursing