Kentucky-Ohio-West Virginia District of Pilot International

District Focus for KY-OH-WV Pilot Clubs during the 2011-2012 club year

In 2001, Pilot International launched its signature project,  BrainMinders™.    BrainMinders™ is a public service campaign aimed at increasing awareness of brain injuries and ways to prevent them.

The purpose of the District Focus will be to:

1.  Educate the public about brain-related disorders, specifically  developmental disabilities, through the club level presentations of BrainMinders™

2.  Raise the visibility of Pilot in both on the local club level and on the District level.

3.  Participate as a District in Brain Awareness Week

The procedure for club participation will be:

1.  Each club will adopt at least one phase of the BrainMinders™ program

a.  BrainMinders™

b.  BrainMinders™ Buddies

c.  Or other activity that incorporates the concept of BrainMinders™

2.  Clubs may get as creative as possible, utilizing puppets, costumes, etc.

3.  Clubs should plan for the BrainMinders™ presentations in their Plans of Work.

4.  Clubs should document their efforts by taking photos, collecting any publicity articles, etc

5.   Clubs will have an opportunity at District Convention to display their photos on our website.

The Brain Awareness Week campaign, launched in 1996, has united the Society for Neuroscience with The Dana Alliance for Brain Initiatives and a coalition of over 1,200 science, advocacy, and other health organizations that share an interest in elevating public awareness of brain and nervous system research.

During the week-long educational blitz, Society members sponsor a variety of educational activities for the general public including lectures, lab tours, classroom visits, and exhibits across North America to demonstrate the importance of basic neuroscience research to the health and well-being of the American public.

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BrainMinders Facts 

• Every 21 seconds* someone in the United States incurs a brain injury.
• Every 16 seconds someone in the world sustains a brain injury.
• In the USA, approximately 90,000 people experience a life-long debilitating loss of function due to a traumatic brain injury each year.
• Most frequent causes of brain injuries are vehicular crashes, falls, ports and recreational injuries and assault.
• Brain injury is the most frequent cause of death among young people.
• Annually, 30,000 children become permanently disabled, 150,000 are hospitalized and 7,000 deaths occur due to brain injury in the United States.
• Many people are not aware that brain damage can occur after a near drowning, or during a medical emergency.
• Currently, up to fifty percent of the American public is unaware that shaking a baby is dangerous.
• An estimated 3,000 children are diagnosed with the traumatic brain injury known as shaken baby syndrome (SBS).
• The only defense against brain injury is prevention education.

* Previous statistic of 15 seconds was upgraded due to the increased use of seat belts and other safety devices.