Community Health

Our pediatric and adult trauma centers are dedicated to injury prevention and outreach in the community. Injury is the leading cause of death and disability among children and adults. Traumatic injury can occur from falls, vehicle crashes, sports, violence or other causes. Accidents happen but most injuries are preventable. Through our community outreach programs, we strive to educate the public on the best practices in injury prevention to reduce the risk of injury and death.

*All programs can be offered in a virtual format.

The Teddy Bear Clinic is an injury prevention program for children sponsored by the pediatric trauma center at Good Samaritan Hospital. Children will learn about two of the most effective ways to reduce car and bicycle-related injuries and deaths: seatbelts and helmets. The program covers the safety topics of car and helmet safety in a fun and interactive way before letting children dress up as doctors and nurses to “take care” of their injured stuffed animals. The program is free of charge and is offered in a variety of settings including schools and libraries.

Impact Teen Drivers is a nationally recognized distracted driving program that provides awareness and education to teenagers, their parents and community members on responsible driving. Motor vehicle crashes are the leading cause of death among teenagers. Most crashes occur due to reckless and distracted driving. The program empowers teens to make good choices when behind the wheel and as passengers.

Falls are the leading cause of injury-related death, hospitalization and emergency department visits among those who are 65 years and over. Each year, 1 in 4 older adults experience a fall. But most falls are preventable. The trauma center at Good Samaritan Hospital offers an evidence-based fall prevention program that is open to the community and free of charge. You can learn how to recognize fall risks and practice important exercises to improve balance and strength to stop a fall before it happens.

Stepping On: An evidence-based workshop that is proven to reduce the risk of falls by up to 50 percent. The seven-week class meets 2 hours each week to learn about fall risks and exercises that will leave you feeling stronger and more confident going about your everyday life.

Uncontrolled bleeding is the number one cause of preventable death from trauma. When more people know how to control bleeding, it increases the chances that more people will survive injuries. You can help save a life by knowing how to stop bleeding if someone, including yourself, is injured.

Stop the Bleed is a 90-minute American College of Surgeons’ Bleeding Control Basic (B-Con) training session. During this nationally recognized program, you will learn three different techniques to control life threatening bleeding. Training sessions are free of charge, open to all community members and can be offered in a variety of settings.