Kudos to everyone involved in the
”
Every 15 Minutes
”
program: To the founders, thank you for your perseverance and
hard work in establishing and presenting this program; to the
faculty, law enforcement and all others involved in organizing
program and allowing the program into the schools, and to all of
you students who volunteered for and attended the demonstration.
You may have been instrumental in saving a life
– possibly your own.
Editor,
Kudos to everyone involved in the “Every 15 Minutes” program: To the founders, thank you for your perseverance and hard work in establishing and presenting this program; to the faculty, law enforcement and all others involved in organizing program and allowing the program into the schools, and to all of you students who volunteered for and attended the demonstration. You may have been instrumental in saving a life – possibly your own.
I am the mother of a child who died in an alcohol-related crash in August 2000. My son Chris Nold, is one of those oft-mentioned senseless tragedies this community has suffered. Just out of teenage-ness, my son was killed at age 20 when the driver of the car he was riding in lost control and the car flipped near Bakersfield. Something struck my son in the head – probably the ice chest that went everywhere with him, or maybe a beer can. Whatever it was, Chris died instantly, still strapped into his seat belt.
Although Chris apparently disregarded the part of my lecture that he was not 21 and that it was illegal for him to drink, he had done many of the things I lectured him about otherwise. He had a designated driver and had at least the automatic part of his seat belt on. What Chris neglected was to stay sober enough to know whether or not his designated driver took his role seriously.
Saying that you will be the designated driver (DD) is not enough. You have to fulfill that role by not having anything alcoholic to drink. Having less to drink than everyone else is not being a responsible designated driver. That sounds pretty obvious, but any alcohol at all should put you on the Non-DD list.
More importantly, each of us has personal responsibility for the decision we make regarding our designated driver. When you trust someone to be your DD, you are literally giving control of your life to that person. Isn’t it worth keeping yourself sober enough to judge that person’s ability to take care of you while they’re behind the wheel? Is it really worth losing your life to have that one extra drink?
We are each responsible for the decisions we make regarding our personal safety. Please make the decision to stay sober enough to know, that if you are drinking, your driver is not. Call someone, stay where you are – do what ever it takes to stay safe.
Actions speak louder than words. Saying you will be the DD, saying nothing will ever happen to you, saying that you will always have a designated driver is not enough. You also have to take the action each of those sayings requires.
I think I can speak for the entire community when I say that we all want to see you students grow up to become successful, mature, contributing members of society. In some way, you each add value to our society and this community cares about and supports you. The whole community mourns when we lose one of you.
Please use good judgment to avoid putting your family and your community through the grief you have witnessed and felt in the Every 15 Minutes program.
Bette Grace, Hollister
