Thinking back, we can quickly recall the glaring headlines in our local paper, "Youth Dead in Collision", "Drinking Driver Claims Another Victim", or "Two Car Crash Claims Local Teenager". We ma not be able to remember how many times we have these headlines, nor are we able to predict how many more times families will have to live through the trauma of losing a child in a senseless accident.
Together We Can Make a Difference!
P.A.R.T.Y stands for Prevent Alcohol and Risk Related Trauma in Youth. It is a youth injury and prevention education program designed to empower youth to take personal responsibility for risk related behaviours and attitude changes. Originating in Toronto at Sunnybrook and Women's College Hospital in 1986, P.A.R.T.Y. now reaches youth in over 70 sites across Canada, The United States and Australia. The West Kootenay P.A.R.T.Y Program Steering Committee is pleased to be initiating the P.A.R.T.Y program in Nelson.
P.A.R.T.Y. has come to Nelson for a number of reasons. Concerns from medical professionals, parents, educators, and community agencies, resulted in the community coming together to discuss implementing the P.A.R.T.Y. program in Nelson. The goal of P.A.R.T.Y. is to provide youth with information that will enable them to recognize potential injury producing situations, make informed prevention oriented choices, change attitudes, and adapt behaviours that will minimize unnecessary risk.
A P.A.R.T.Y day covers a variety of interactive, reality based, hands on presentations that make the day fun and educational. Grade 10 students who attend a P.A.R.T.Y. day at Kootenay Lake Hospital will hear, see, and explore a variety of events that deal with: