In keeping with Barnes-Jewish Hospital''s mission to improve the health of the communities the hospital serves, members of the trauma team also provide community outreach programs to promote trauma awareness and injury prevention.

Seat Belt Check
Held annually at various locations across the Washington University Medical Center to remind visitors and employees the importance of buckling up. 

Project Guns
Quarterly meeting in which the trauma team addresses a group of first time offenders about what happens to the body when you are shot. The presentation gives these teens a graphic view of what goes on in the emergency room.

Drowsy Driving 
The program reminds employees and visitors about the dangers of drowsy driving.

The Right Direction
This encourages and assists participants of all ages to make the right choice when faced with alcohol and drug use. The damaging effects of drug use including inhalant drugs are explained as well as graphic pictures and video.

We also emphasize the importance of making safe choices when driving and/or riding in vehicles. The program also provides them with a perspective of the emergency department experience as result of poor decision making. This can be within a classroom or an assembly setting.

Safe Through the Years
Driving safety, fall prevention and fire safety are addressed for the senior adult. The goal is to assist the senior adult to adjust to the physical changes of their body, and remind them of the steps they need to stay safe at home and on the road.

Surviving the Injury
This two-part series demonstrates to high school students the reality of what happens after the injury has occurred. This includes a tour of the Barnes-Jewish Hospital emergency department, the CAT scan room and the helipad. A mock trauma resuscitation is demonstrated without the students realizing it is staged.

This program provides a realistic look at the care given to a severely injured patient in the ED.

The second part of this program involves visiting the Rehabilitation Institute of St. Louis. Here the participants experience the challenge of using crutches and a wheel chair to develop a better understanding of what faces the recovering trauma patient.

ThinkFirst
ThinkFirst is a non-profit organization designed to promote brain and spinal cord injury prevention awareness. Barnes-Jewish is home of the St. Louis Chapter of Think First. The program includes classroom and scout activities targeting grades 1-4 and middle and high school students. Areas specifically addressed are: vehicle, water, bicycle, sports and recreation safety. This can be within a classroom or an assembly setting.

Pre-School Safety
These lighthearted presentations are geared for the 3-5 year old student. We discuss the importance of vehicle and pedestrian safety and a view of bulling and anger through the eyes of a child. These topics are addressed via presentations, stories and games.

For more information about these educational outreach programs, please call Kristen Jorstad at 314-362-9174.