This spring more than 2,000 third graders throughout Central Oregon will learn about brain injury prevention and helmet safety through the Train Your Brain program taught by St. Charles athletic trainers. This program provides interactive assemblies and free multi-sport helmets to local elementary students across the region.
“Helmet safety is a simple yet crucial way to prevent serious head injuries in children,” said Stuart Schmidt, Athletic Training program manager at St. Charles. “With the Train Your Brain program, we create a fun, interactive experience that helps students develop lifelong safety habits and empowers them to protect their brains while staying active.”
For 16 years, the Train Your Brain program has distributed more than 1,000 free helmets for local students every year, ensuring kids have proper head protection for activities such as bicycling, skateboarding, rollerblading and scooter riding. The 2026 program, which is funded by St. Charles Foundation, begins in late March, just in time to prepare students for a safe and active summer. The presentations include interactive demonstrations on injury prevention, helmet safety, proper fitting and care. A highlight of the assembly is the melon drop, which is a dramatic demonstration that emphasizes the importance of wearing a helmet. Following the presentation, St. Charles caregivers and volunteers will properly fit free helmets for every student who needs one.
“We also want to thank our school districts for recognizing the significance of this safety initiative and to our partners, First Interstate Bank and the Redmond and Sisters Kiwanis clubs, for making it possible to provide free helmets to every third grader in Central Oregon who needs one,” said Schmidt.
To learn more about Train Your Brain and our athletic trainers, visit our webpage.
About St. Charles Health System
St. Charles Health System, Inc., headquartered in Bend, Ore., owns and operates St. Charles Bend, Madras, Prineville and Redmond. It also owns family care and specialty clinics in Bend, La Pine, Madras, Prineville, Redmond and Sisters. St. Charles is a private, nonprofit Oregon corporation and is the largest employer in Central Oregon with more than 5,000 caregivers. In addition, there are more than 400 active medical staff members and nearly 200 visiting medical staff members who partner with the health system to provide a wide range of care and service to our communities.
