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Monday, November 07, 2005

You Drink, You Drive, You Lose

UMC-sponsored campaign aims to get impaired drivers off Las Vegas roadways

More than 1,700 vehicle collisions this year in the Las Vegas Metropolitan Police Department’s jurisdiction involved someone driving under the influence of some type of alcohol or drug. Of all fatal vehicular accidents in Las Vegas to date, police statistics show 28.5 percent were a direct result of a drunk or drugged driver.

Unfortunately, the upcoming holiday season will no doubt bring more news reports of people involved in alcohol and drug-related accidents. Tragic deaths and long-term health problems for the drivers, passengers and other innocent victims are only part of the devastation left by these incidents. Many involved also suffer debilitating psychological wounds that may take years to heal. Others face legal challenges and economic losses.

University Medical Center and its community partners are teaming up to do something about this issue by presenting its annual awareness event designed to discourage impaired driving and remind everyone that driving under the influence is also breaking the law.

The 4th annual “You Drink, You Drive, You Lose” event will be held Friday, Dec. 2, from 10 a.m. to 2 p.m. at UMC. All local media, community and governmental leaders and the general public are encouraged to participate.

Several events will demonstrate the effects of impaired driving, including a relay race with participants wearing “fatal vision” goggles, an extrication demonstration by Las Vegas Fire and Rescue, a vehicle rollover demonstration and the “Convincer,” a simulation of what happens when people involved in accidents don’t wear seatbelts.

“You Drink, You Drive, You Lose” is a campaign delivered by a collaboration of several agencies, including the UMC Trauma Center, the National Highway Traffic Safety Administration, the Nevada Office of Traffic Safety, Safe Communities, Las Vegas Fire and Rescue, the Las Vegas Metropolitan Police Department and the Nevada Department of Motor Vehicles.

UMC operates Nevada’s only American College of Surgeons-verified Level I Trauma Center, the highest level of trauma care available. In addition to being the state’s only Level I trauma center, UMC is also the only Level I trauma center in a radius of 10,000 square miles, serving parts of Arizona, California and Utah. UMC’s Trauma Center treats more than 11,600 patients annually with a 96 percent survival rate.

For more information on the “You Drink, You Drive, You Lose” event, please contact UMC at 383-2090 or UMC Trauma Center at 383-2092.

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Editor’s Note: This event provides numerous interview and photo opportunities. We also invite members of the media to participate in the relay race and to encourage public participation.

Contact Information:
Cheryl Persinger , Public Relations Manager
(702) 383-2090
Cheryl.Persinger@umcsn.com
University Medical Center
1800 West Charleston Blvd., Las Vegas, NV 89102