Brí, working closely with members of the National Rehabilitation Hospital Paediatric staff decided to initiate a series of education events specifically aimed at Transition Year students – our target market ( sadly ). The events, which include
‘ hard hitting ’ messages about responsible driving and socialising from the Gardaí, explain the adolescent brain and it’s fragility, and also gives the students a hands on view of what it would be like to have a brain injury, with workshops from Physiotherapists, Speech & Language therapists and occupational therapists in the National Rehab Hospital.
The Purpose:
Due to medical advances, more and more people are surviving each year with traumatic brain injuries, in particular. Brain injury is a hidden epidemic about which very few people outside of the medical community are aware.
By hosting these events Brí and the NRH aims:
• To inform and educate pupils on what an Acquired Brain Injury is and its causes – Road traffic accidents, sports injuries, assaults and falls.
• To give an insight into how the Paediatric team facilitates the rehabilitation of children/adolescents with an ABI. This will include input from occupational therapists, physiotherapists, social workers, psychologist and speech and language therapist, music therapist and hospital school staff.
• An Garda Siochana to make a presentation regarding the abuse of alcohol and drugs and road safety awareness.
• To give pupils an opportunity to be involved and participate in interactive sessions with therapists, to better understand the consequences on an ABI.
• To give TY co-ordinators the opportunity to meet with social workers and neuro-psychologists regarding the re-entry of ABI children back to school.
When are these events held & how do you register your school ?
If you are interested in attending an Education and Prevention event contact us with your information and we will be in touch.
Please note : there is a waiting list for schools.
Outreach Education and Prevention events :
Brí hold a number of Education and Prevention events through out the year in different parts of the country. Through 2012 we concentrated on the North East with events being held in Meath and Louth. Secondary school students and teachers from these areas are invited to a one day event which has the same purpose as the above events, to educate students on brain injury and road safety.
Members from the Garda Traffic Unit, Ambulance service and an A&E nurse all give their personal encounters to the students of what happens when a road traffic accident occurs. Describing what happens from when the Gardaí and Ambulance arrive on the scene to the A&E department. A personal experience is also shared from a person who has suffered a brain injury.