Most young people believe they will never die. That belief often leads to risky behaviour, because youth believe the worst will never happen to them.
A program that started in Canada 25 years ago and has now spread around the globe made its first appearance in Powell River this month. Powell River General Hospital, Powell River Fire Rescue, BC Ambulance Service, School District 47, Powell River RCMP and other agencies hosted a PARTY (Prevention of Alcohol and Risk Related Trauma in Youth) program for Brooks Secondary School students. The fast-paced, tell-it-like-it-is injury prevention program is designed to show youth real life physical trauma from those who witness it first hand.
Trauma is the leading cause of death and injury among 15 to 34 year olds. Mothers Against Drunk Driving (MADD) estimates between 1,250 and 1,500 deaths in Canada per year are a result of drinking and driving. In BC 116 people died in alcohol-related vehicle crashes between October 2009 and September 2010. The following year, after the introduction of stiffer penalties for drinking and driving, the number fell to 68.
Rather than discouraging teens from participating in fun activities, PARTY encourages the consideration of consequences. Dangerous behaviour such as speeding, drinking and driving, not wearing a seatbelt or other protective equipment, reckless skiing or diving into shallow water can have tragic consequences, which often could have been prevented.
The primary goal of the program is to promote injury prevention through reality education, enabling youth to recognize risk and make informed choices about activities and behaviours. Putting that goal into practice is incredibly challenging for many reasons, not the least of which is that, for youth, short-term thrills are far more alluring than long-term consequences such as brain and spinal cord injuries. Other factors, including peer pressure, slick marketing campaigns and irresponsible role modelling, contribute to impaired judgment that goes beyond alcohol and drugs.
Showing youth the consequences of risky behaviour helps them realize they make choices every day. Bad choices can cause death or injury, not only to themselves, but to others. Some choices are made in a split second, but the consequences last for a lifetime, such as living with a disability.
Early education about the consequences of risky choices can change behaviour. Promoting injury prevention through reality education can decrease the number of teens killed or disabled in our community. Our appreciation goes out to all those who worked so hard to deliver this message to students.
