Injury Prevention Programs
At Stony Brook Children’s Hospital, the only pediatric level 1 trauma center in Suffolk County, we are committed to providing comprehensive education to our community on preventing injuries and promoting safety. Below are our programs designed to educate families and reduce the risk of injury for children and teens.
Request Injury Prevention Program Information
Note: Community programs are free but capacity is limited.
Teddy Bear Clinics (Pre K-2nd Grade)
Passenger Safety, Helmet Safety, Distracted Driving
Our Teddy Bear Clinics offer a fun and educational way to teach young children about helmet, passenger and driving safety, and the prevention of traumatic brain injury (TBI). Created for children in grades K-2, this program includes:
- The Impact Teen Driver Elementary Program: Lessons on being a safe passenger, which carries benefits into safe teen driving (what we call “car seats to car keys”).
- Helmet Safety: Teach kids about head protection through our ThinkFirst curriculum.
- Medical Role Play: Children dress up as medical staff and care for their injured stuffed animals, reinforcing the safety lessons they’ve learned about passenger and driving safety.
Girl Scouts of Suffolk County
In partnership with Stony Brook Children’s Pediatric Trauma Center, this Safety First patch is available for Girl Scouts of all levels, and girls will be offered the opportunity to visit Stony Brook’s Pediatric Trauma Center and will complete different activities based on their Girl Scout level.
Water Safety
Drowning is the leading cause of death for children ages 1–4, and the second leading cause for children ages 5–14. In Suffolk County, drowning rates are rising — but with education and awareness, drowning is preventable.
As the Medical Center of Excellence for the Suffolk County Drowning Prevention Alliance, we are committed to protecting families through water safety education, outreach, and community partnerships.
We proudly partner with Stop Drowning Now, a national nonprofit dedicated to drowning prevention through education. Together, we raise awareness about essential water safety practices and provide access to age-appropriate resources and educational programs for children and caregivers.
Key topics include:
- Active supervision in and around water
- Safety checklists for homes, pools, and open water
- Proven drowning prevention strategies
- Education teaching children how to stay safe in and around water
These materials and programs are shared in schools, healthcare settings, and community spaces across Suffolk County to help families stay safe around water.
Learn more about water safety and how to protect your family.
Water safety resources for all ages
E-Bike and E-Scooter (Micromobility) Safety
Stony Brook Children's Hospital is seeing a concerning rise in micromobility injuries among children. The popularity of e-bikes and e-scooters has led to a significant increase in pediatric trauma cases, and these injuries are often much more severe than those from traditional bicycles.
Key facts to know:
- Children are disproportionately affected by e-bike and e-scooter incidents.
- High-speed e-bikes and e-scooters are now a leading cause of serious injury, including head and internal trauma that often require hospitalization.
Protecting your child is crucial when it comes to micromobility devices. E-bikes and e-scooters can reach high speeds, greatly increasing the risk of severe injuries.
To help keep children safe:
- Always ensure your child wears a properly fitted helmet for every ride to reduce the risk of serious head injury.
- Follow state and local age laws—most restrict e-bike and e-scooter use to riders 16 and older.
Prioritizing safety and awareness can help prevent many micromobility injuries in children.
Learn more about e-bike and e-scooter safety
Motor Vehicle Occupancy Safety
Child Passenger Safety, Car Seats
Stony Brook Children's offers educational programs on car seat safety for parents and caregivers, including free scheduled car seat fittings and car seat classes (through our ThinkFirst for baby curriculum). Car seat safety is critical; studies show that nearly half (46 percent) of car seats are installed incorrectly (NHTSA). Ensure your child is riding safely by scheduling a fitting with a certified technician.
For more information on child passenger safety, please visit this Safe Kids Worldwide resource.
To find a local Child Safety Seat Inspection Station, please visit this New York State resource.
Wheeled Sports & Helmet Safety
Bicycles, Motorized Devices, Pedestrian Safety
Riding bikes, scooters and skateboards is a popular activity for kids, but it’s important to practice safety. Our Wheeled Sports Safety Program teaches kids the importance of wearing helmets and riding safely, particularly as they progress from supervised to unsupervised riding. Through our partnership with ThinkFirst, we offer age-appropriate lessons at schools and community events to help children understand the science behind brain injuries and how helmets can prevent them, including:
- Learning how helmet use can prevent traumatic brain injuries
- Promoting the use of helmets during all wheeled sports
- Teaching the importance of riding safely in various environments
For current information on wheeled sports safety, please visit this Safe Kids Worldwide resource.
Infant Safety: ThinkFirst for Your Baby
Our ThinkFirst for Your Baby program is a community education initiative designed to help parents, grandparents and caregivers keep their babies safe. This interactive class includes four essential modules, as well as useful handouts and resources. Whether you're a new parent or expecting, this class will provide valuable knowledge on:
- Safe sleep practices
- Positive parenting and calming techniques
- Car seat safety
- Fall prevention
- Baby-proofing the home
- Family and environment safety
Classes can be tailored to meet the specific needs of participants, ensuring that all families receive the information they need to keep their babies safe.
For current information on Infant Safety, please visit this Safe Kids Worldwide webpage.
Child & Teen Sports Safety
Help young athletes stay healthy and active with expert sports safety education from Stony Brook Children's Hospital. Explore injury prevention tips, concussion resources and free sports safety education sessions for student athletes, parents, coaches and youth sports organizations.
Learn more about child and teen sports safety
Concussion Safety & Education
Concussions are a serious concern, especially in sports and recreational activities. Our Concussion Safety Program provides essential education on how to prevent, recognize, and respond to concussions. Through our partnership with ThinkFirst, we offer About Concussion, a 45-minute class offered to schools and athletic organizations, covering:
- What a concussion is
- How to spot concussion symptoms
- How to respond to a concussion
For more information on Concussion Safety, please visit this ThinkFirst resource.
Additional information about concussion safety and prevention can be found on the CDC’s HEADS UP resource.
Teen Driving Program
Impact Teen Drivers (ITD) is a national nonprofit organization focused on preventing reckless and distracted driving among teens. Through our partnership with ITD, we provide evidence-based education that helps teens recognize dangerous driving behaviors, make safer choices and speak up when they see unsafe behavior.
The program is offered to schools and community organizations and includes:
- Recognizing the dangers of distracted driving
- Encouraging safer driving behaviors
- Empowering teens to speak up about unsafe driving
As part of the program, Stony Brook Trauma Center partnered with Commack High School to train students to deliver peer-to-peer presentations on distracted and reckless driving, reaching approximately 1,000 students. The program emphasized the impact that everyday choices — such as texting, speeding, not wearing seatbelts and other distractions — can have on the safety of young drivers and their passengers.
For more information about Impact Teen Drivers, please visit the ITD website.
Trauma Outreach
Parent Information Sessions
Stony Brook Children's Hospital offers child age–specific safety education sessions for parents and caregivers. These programs can be tailored to meet the needs of libraries, PTA meetings, after-school programs, community organizations and more. Topics may include:
- Car safety
- Bike and helmet safety
- Scald burn prevention
- Fall prevention
- Teen driving safety
Public and Professional
Our Trauma Outreach Program provides critical training for prehospital personnel, including EMTs, paramedics, firehouses and police departments, focusing on trauma care and emergency response techniques. Our program also offers Stop the Bleed training to the community, teaching the skills on how to control severe bleeding in emergencies, the number one cause of preventable death from trauma.
Additional topics may be available upon request. Please contact us through the form below to learn more about available programs or contact:
Jamie Ryan, BSN, RN, CPN
Injury Prevention Coordinator
(631) 444-9321
sbcinjuryprevention@stonybrookmedicine.edu
In addition to her role as Injury Prevention Professional, Ryan is the Think First Suffolk County Chapter lead and board member of a national micromobility working group.
