Why P.A.R.T.Y. with Teens?
The greatest incidence of serious injury and death is the 15 to 24 year old age group. Dangerous behaviour such as speeding, drinking and driving, not wearing a seatbelt or other protective equipment, reckless skiing or diving into shallow water can have tragic consequences. Consequences that often could have been prevented. Promoting injury prevention through reality education can decrease the number of teens killed or disabled in our community. Early education about consequences of risk-taking behaviours can change behaviour. Rather than discouraging kids from participating in fun activities, P.A.R.T.Y. encourages the consideration of consequences.
P.A.R.T.Y. Program Calgary has adopted the smart risk management approach and promotes smart risk messages and the related concept of the 'Stupid Line' in all student sessions.
Smart risk messages are the 'how to's' of preventing injury and they support the active process of distinguishing and choosing between smart risks and potentially dangerous risks. The six smart risk messages that youth are encouraged to explore are:
- Buckle Up
- Look First
- Wear the Gear
- Get Trained
- Drive Sober
- Seek Help
The Stupid Line is the line of choice that separates smart risk from stupid risk:
- The Stupid Line is different for each person
- An individual's Stupid Line changes over his or her lifetime
- Everyone needs the chance to practice thinking about, defining, and re-defining their own Stupid Line.
"I gained a realization that injury has a face. It's hard to gain a respect for the frailty of the human body unless you see how easily it is broken. I gained a new healthier respect for the choices I make.
On the way home from school the other day I stopped at a stop sign that I've blown off for more than two years.
I have come to the conclusion that I'm not only choosing not to drink alcohol, choosing to wear my seatbelt, and not just choosing to drive safe -- I am choosing to live and to keep my quality of life." ... Student
