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1O-The Canadian Champion, Friday, March il, 2005 ~A1coho1 poisoning one topic addressed at forum Learning boss ts party isut normally on the school curriculum but it was the focus of a work- shop attended by about 16t0 Hatton high ichool students at Rattesnake Point Golf Club last week. The annual event, Party in the Right Spirit. was organized by the Halton Regioit Healh Department. Hahton Regional Police Service and Mothers Against Drunk Driving. It încluded guest speakers and presentations, including a tatk on alcohiol poisoning by Lîsa Visser, a public health nurse tor Halton Region. Surprisingly. alcohot poisoning is responsible for more deathi in the United States than drunk driving, she told students. "You don't hear about it as mach. You hear about drunk driving deaths because that's somne- thing the media can report. The kids just aren't as aware of it and don't realize how serious and easy it is to get." With alcohol poisoning, in most cases the vie- tim is taken to a hospitat from a residence and are then subjeet to rutes of confidentiality sshich means fatalities aren't as widely known. she said. Alcohol poisoning is the severe elevation of 1a person's blood alcohol concentration, a result of consuming large amounts over a short period of time. Alcohol is a depressant; it slows a person's heart rate and breathing, sometimes t0 the point where the individual's body no longer can sup- port life. That*s why people pais out. Passing out is one of the symptomi, which alsm include slow and irregular breathing. blue skin and vomniting. Alcohol affects the gag reflex, which means people can choke on their own vomit. Ms Visser advised what to do and what not to do in an instance of alcohol poisoning. Coffe isn't a good idea, nor is a cold shower, which Photos by GRAHAM PAINE Above and top right, Georgetown high school students perform a short play involving a mock trial and drunk driving incident during the 'Party in the Right Spirit' workshop. Bottomn right, a wrecked car placed outside Rattlesnake Point Golf Club says it ail. could send the vicîim mbt shock. What are good ideas, according to Ms Visser, are making sure the perion isn't atone. puttîng thern on their side, and catting 911, although sometimes that's a difficult decision to make when il's a party that involves underage drink- ing. It's a decision, however. that coutd save someone's life. The public health nurse dîd offèr some tipi to prevent il froro happening. They inctude eating something first, atternating ateohot drinks with non-ateohol drinks. pacing oneself and avoiding drinking games. And once the parly*s over, the consequences may stitl remain, she said. A person could be sued. Hosti of private par- ties can be hetd financiatly responsibte for injuries and damages that involve their intoxicat- ed gueits. She said if a person provides alcohol at a party, il's their responsibitity Io make sure their guests gel home safety. and even if they host a party and don't provide alcohot they're responsible for their guests' safeîy even afiter they leave. The timing of the workshop is directty relted t0 the time of year when there are lots of formaIs and grad parties, according 10 Const. Kate Pulford, community support officer for Milton. "We grew up in an era in which alcohot was 'i accepted. but we didn't learn about prevention of alcohol poisoning. We target youtb so that tbey bave a better understanding and cari make the nigbt decision to keep themselves safe, as weIl as the kids around them." DR AG-E A MAUA If you suifer from dry age-related macular degeneratiori you should read the following important information. Rheopheresis' is a new treatment for Dry AMD. The RHEO Clinico is conducting a clinical study to expand the current knowledge about the potential benefits of this treatment. Enroliment is currently open and will be limited to the tirst 60 individuals with Dry AMD who qualify. The doctors at the RHEO Clinto will determine ail study candidates. BASIC STUDY CRITERIA *Ages 50-85 *At Ieast one eye with Dry AMD *Good General Health Study patients wlI be provided with ail treatments at a sigrtificantly reduced tee. If you have Dry AMD, contact us fo moe information