ThinkFirst

The ThinkFirst program at SIU Medicine seeks to prevent and raise awareness about brain and spinal cord injuries. We educate kids, teens and adults about important topics like impaired or distracted driving, child passenger safety and helmet use.

Welcome

SIU Medicine is proud to offer our unique ThinkFirst programs to community members throughout central and southern Illinois. These award-winning programs are intended to prevent brain and spinal cord injuries among kids, teens and adults, especially those caused by motor vehicle accidents.

Our services and programs include ThinkFirst for Teens, ThinkFirst for Kids, Victim Impact Panels for DUI Offenders, child passenger safety seat education, seat belt and distracted driving education, bike helmet fittings and crash reenactments.

ThinkFirst programs are open to the public thanks to a federal grant from the Illinois Department of Transportation.

Latest articles

A heart for the mission, a mind for the work: Iris Wesley’s vision broadens care in Illinois

July 9, 2025

Over more than 40 years at SIU Medicine, Iris Wesley played a key role in expanding access to care across Illinois. Her collaborative leadership helped guide the growth of SIU’s Federally Qualified Health Center network, now one of the largest university-affiliated systems in the country.

Finishing strong: 2020-25 Strategic Plan Progress Report

July 3, 2025

A new progress report has been published to outline the accomplishments that reflect the resilience, innovation and unwavering commitment of our entire SIU Medicine community.

Mt. Zion High School students to experience crash reenactment

April 23, 2024

Mount Zion High School students will experience a crash reenactment on Friday, April 26, at Braves Parkway, east of the school. SIU’s ThinkFirst injury prevention program is coordinating and presenting the event.