News

Saving a life, one tour at a time: alcohol awareness program comes to Dover

  • Published
  • By Airman 1st Class Shen-Chia Chu
  • 436th AW Public Affairs
DOVER AIR FORCE BASE, Del. --  The Safe a Life Tour, a National High Impact Alcohol Awareness Program, came to brief Team Dover members at The Landings Club May 25.

The Save a Life Tour presented a video of car crash victims, interviews from families and peers who shared stories about the loss of loved ones and a drinking and driving simulation experience.

"Coinciding with national statistics, Air Force trends show that Airman 25 years old and younger are the highest risk potential to be involved in a serious motor vehicle accident," said Kevin Greene, 436th Airlift Wing Safety Office chief of ground safety. "With that said, we are proud to bring this interactive presentation to our Airman to help fight these alarming trends."

The video footage showed the aftermath of multiple car crashes. Firefighters rushed to the scene and attempted to rescue limp and unresponsive bodies mangled in-between cars. Some victims were dismembered with pieces of brain spilling out of their skull, and others had skin dismantled by the impact of the collision.

"These are not hired actors in this video," said Brian Beldyga, Save a Life Tour senior manager, who gave the presentation in October 2009. "People may think the video is gory, but seeing this doesn't stop a person from drinking and driving. It all comes down to each individual's emotional response tied to this briefing that makes a difference."

As part of the crewmember team for Save a Life Tour 2009, Matt Kwant shared why he believed spreading the message was important from personal experience.

"When it comes to drinking and driving, everyone thinks 'it's not going to be me' but it still happens," said Mr. Kwant.

Mr. Kwant told a story about his car accident where alcohol was involved and his friend became paralyzed.

"I've seen the consequences of what happens because of drunk drivers, and being a drunk driver myself, it has screwed my life up," he said.

Throughout the video presentation, friends and family members shared personal accounts about the death of loved ones that were in car accidents. Police officers described their experience in retrieving victims from car wrecks as the video streamed graphic scenes of what once resembled human faces. Scenes of bloody and disheveled bodies being pulled out of vehicles going by on the screen gave an image to match the words of the officers.

"More than 17,000 Americans are killed each year in alcohol related accidents according to www.alcoholalert.com and we do not want our Airmen to become part of the statistic," said Tech. Sgt. Jeffery Engram, 436th AW Safety Office Ground Safety NCO in-charge. "The Save a Life Tour is necessary because we want to educate our Airmen to prevent unnecessary deaths due to alcohol-related incidents."

Airmen also had the chance to test-drive a 2.5 million-dollar simulator that offered a 180-degree field of view on multi-screens to simulate a realistic driving experience. The computer program gradually increased the intoxication level and decreased responsiveness of the vehicle, simulating the effect alcohol has on the human coordination system.

"I hope Team Dover members remember to drink responsibly and have a plan home, or call Dover Airmen Against Drunk Driving," said Sergeant Engram.




For a free, anonymous ride home Fridays and Saturdays from 10 p.m. to 3 a.m., Team Dover members can call Dover Airmen Against Drunk Driving at 677-6000. For more information or to volunteer, email Dover.DAADD@dover.af.mil.