Anti drink-drive campaign for Christmas

Waimarino Bulletin, Volume 5, Issue 26, 24 November 1987, Page 4

Anti drink-drive campaign for Christmas

This week sees the first of a series of articles to feature in the Waimarino Bulletin concerning the Wanganui A r e a Health Board's Drink-Drive-Die campaign for the 1987 Christmas/New Year holiday period. This year's campfaign closely follows the 1986 campaign, with the aim of increasing public awareness and responsibility during the 10-day target period from 23 December to 3 January. A budget of $20,000 has been allocated to the campaign, with the bulk of the finances being spent on publicity, including the printing of 45,000 bumper s tickers , 35,000 pamphlets and T-shirts bearing the Drink-Drive-die logo. The Board will again be approaching businesses requesting that they take responsibility for their employees and friends at staff Christmas functions and ensure safe transport is available if their staff have been drinking. Chief Social Worker Malcolm Hunt said that the campaign is taking off nationally, with Northland, Dannevirke and Central Hawkes Bay areas using WAHB material. Tombstone-shaped road signs depicting the Drink-Drive-Die logo - a steering wheel inset with a skull and an empty bottle, will

be erected at the top of the Parapara Highway just south of Raetihi, and north of Waiouru on the Desert Road as from 1 December. Road signs will also be sited on all major highways at entrances to Marton and Wanganui. The main objective of the Wanganui Area Health Board is an alcohol-related accident free holiday period. Last year the objective was almost reached but for two fatalities, one being in Raetihi. The festive season is almost upon u s again, the time for fun, parties and lots of sharing. I recently saw a sign outside a garage that read "Smash your car early - avoid the Christmas rush". This really brought home to me the reality of some of the tragedy that can happen amidst all the festivities. Only one person was killed in the Waimarino area last Christmas holidays. Unfortunately this record did not last. During the year a succession of people lost their lives on the Waimarino roads. They were all young people who should have had their whole lives in front of them. When you think about it, when someone is killed a lot of people feel the pain. The grief reaches out to the family members and friends - mothers, fathers, grandparents, aunts

and uncles, brothers, sisters, workmates and schoolmates. These are the people grieving for the person who did not come home. All of us at Waimarino Hospital would like to wish you a Merry Christmas and a Happy New Year. We would love to see you during the holiday time but not on a stretcher. If you are drinking this Christmas the following tips are worth remembering. 1. Eat plenty of food at your party but, a plea to the host/hostess, please serve sandwiches, fruit and savouries etc with drinks instead of salted peanuts and chippies. Salty food makes you thirsty and you drink more,

thus increasing the likelihood of becoming drunk. 2. Arrange for a nondrinking driver to take you home. Another plea to the host/hostess. Please provide a range of non-alco-holic drinks for the nondrinking guests at your party. Come on clubs, firms, borough councils - anybody who is organising a Christmas party please ensure your guests are safe on the road! On behalf of all caring professionals who will be working over the holiday period please give us a break. Your grief touches us tnn!

Eve

Rush

Principal Nurse Waimarino Hospital