Viva Vitality: A different sort of P.A.R.T.Y.
By Medicine Hat News on February 23, 2018.
Every Thursday throughout the school year, students and teachers arrive at the Medicine Hat Regional Hospital for a P.A.R.T.Y but this P.A.R.T.Y is different. This P.A.R.T.Y is about awareness and prevention. It is about learning from those who have real-life experiences with risk-related trauma such as nurses, EMS, police, and injury survivors. This P.A.R.T.Y takes Grade 9 students through the path of a trauma patient as they experience being rushed through the ER doors. This P.A.R.T.Y is about what happens when young people make a decision that changes their life forever. Smart risk messages support the action of choosing between smart risks and potentially dangerous risks. When you are 15-25 years of age you take the most dangerous risks. Take advantage of life by taking smart risks and choose behaviors that reduce the likelihood of injury. Look First Look first means stop, think, and check out the situation before acting. Understand the risks of an activity and make a plan to manage them: plan your route, check for obstacles and act only when you know what you are getting into. Get Trained Effective training and practice can reduce the risk of injury. Getting trained includes job training, driver training, and training for a new sport. All of these can help you see where the risks lie and help you manage those risks. Learn from the experts. Wear the Gear Wearing the gear helps protect your body while you enjoy an activity. Whether the gear is a helmet, kneepads, life jacket, or goggles. Protection exists to help you stay safe. Buckle Up Buckles designed to protect you are everywhere, not just in cars. Buckle your life jacket, helmet, and climbing harness too, because your seatbelt, life jacket, or helmet, protective gear can function only when used properly. Be sure the protective gear fits as recommended and is used for its appropriate recreation. Drive Sober Driving sober applies to any type of vehicle: car, truck, ATV, boat or snowmobile and impairment means the use of alcohol or other drugs, a lack of sleep, or distractions like cell phones. Always stay sober. Seek Help Seek help means look for support when you or someone you know needs it. Life’s issues and challenges can seem overwhelming when being faced alone. It’s OK to ask for help. Our goal is to reduce the frequency and severity of youth injury by taking Smart Risks. Students who participate in the P.A.R.T.Y. program leave knowing better and doing better. For more information about P.A.R.T.Y. and Smart Risks you can contact Lisa Doyle, a health promotion facilitator with Alberta Health Services, by email at lisa.doyle@ahs.caor visit: https://myhealth.alberta.ca/Alberta/Pages/smart-risk-approach-to-preventing-injury.aspx Andreea Vrabie is a student intern at Alberta Health Services, from the University of Lethbridge. She can be reached by email at andreea.vrabie@albertahealthservices.ca 19-18
