Innisfail and Penhold teens participated in a one-day event focused on injury awareness and prevention last week.
Grade 9 students from both schools met Wednesday at Innisfail Jr/Sr High School and heard presentations from RCMP, Alberta Health Services, and EMS.
The goal of the program, called P.A.R.T.Y (Preventing Alcohol Related Trauma in Youth), is to teach adolescents to recognize their injury risks and make informed decisions.
“I think it really showed the effects of alcohol,” said Grade 9 student Kevin Barnes of the morning’s presentation.
“It showed different things to think about,” said Catriona Hicks.
The presentation, three hours and offered both Tuesday and Wednesday, went through different scenarios.
“We talked about impaired driving, drowsy and distracted driving,” said Cst. Rick Buisseret of some the police’s presentation. “EMS spoke about response times and how to know where you are if you’re in a crash. We also talked about risky behaviour, for example being behind a quad and how to prevent injuries – wearing a helmet and that kind of thing.”
Sue Mcbeath, P.A.R.T.Y program site coordinator, said it is an international program that runs every year.
Information from the program’s website states the greatest incidence of serious injury and death is in the 15- to 24-year-old age group. Dangerous behaviour such as speeding, drinking and driving and not wearing a seatbelt can have tragic consequence, that in most cases could have been prevented.
The program aims to prevent injuries through reality education.
