Teen driver smiling behind the wheel of a car while an adult leans on the window, offering guidance and encouragement in a safe and supportive setting.

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. For information on these programs, email Jamie Ryan, BSN, RN, CPN, our injury prevention professional, jamie.ryan@stonybrookmedicine.edu. 

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. 

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. 

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 current information on Concussion Safety, please visit this ThinkFirst resource. 

Teen Driving Program

Impact Teen Drivers (ITD) is a national non-profit organization that focuses on preventing reckless and distracted driving among teens. Our partnership with ITD allows us to offer evidence-based education programs that educate teens about the dangers of distracted and unsafe driving behaviors.

This program is offered to school districts and the community in an effort to save lives and reduce injuries caused by car crashes through:

Recognizing the dangers of distracted driving
Implementing behavior change to save lives
Speaking up! 90% of teen drivers say they would stop texting while driving if a friend asked them to (according to Impact Teen Driver)

For more information on Impact Teen Driver, please visit this site.

Water Safety May-August

Drowning is a leading cause of death for children ages 1 to 4 (CDC), and many of these tragedies are preventable. Our Water Safety Curriculum, developed in collaboration with the Stop Drowning Now global non-for-profit, helps both children and caregivers learn essential water safety skills at an age appropriate level.

The Stop Drowning Now program raises awareness about water safety practices, such as:

  • Supervision around water
  • Water safety checklists
  • Best drowning prevention practices
  • We offer this curriculum for both children and caregivers, in the classroom and the community setting.

For current drowning prevention education, please visit the National Drowning Prevention Website. 

Trauma Outreach

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.

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