A program aiming to prevent risk-related trauma in youth is celebrating ten years in Saskatoon.
P.A.R.T.Y. stands for prevent alcohol and risk-related trauma in youth.
This morning, members of the P.A.R.T.Y. program honoured their presenters and collaborators for their help in making the program a success.
Julie Gerwing, Acquired Brian Injury Education and Prevention Co-ordinator for the Saskatoon Health Region and program co-ordinator for P.A.R.T.Y., says Injuries cost Canadians $19.8 billion dollars a year and 90 percent of injuries are preventable.
“If we can get injury prevention programming to students at a young age and get them to pass on that information to other students then hopefully we can tackle that issue,” said Gerwing.
Nolan Barnes is a PARTY presenter who broke his back in a drug and alcohol related car accident in 2010. Barnes began speaking to the youth attending P.A.R.T.Y events shortly after his accident. He says speaking to the youth about his experience has been a positive influence on his own life.
“It really gave me the motivation to stay sober and live a positive life knowing that out of 100 kids I might have changed one person’s life.”
The PARTY program is an interactive day teaching grade 10 students to minimize unnecessary risk and has been able to reach thousands of students throughout Saskatchewan.