Media Release

Introducing SIDNE®, an Exciting Addition to BUH’s P.A.R.T.Y® Program

September 24th 2015

North Battleford, SK – Battlefords Union Hospital (BUH) Foundation is excited to announce that “Prevents Makes Cents,” capital campaign has been successfully completed and the Simulated Impaired Driving Experience® (SIDNE®) has arrived.  It will now be part of BUH’s Emergency Department’s program to Prevent Alcohol and Risk Related Trauma in Youth (P.A.R.T.Y. ®).   There are approximately ten simulators in Canada and BUH Foundation has purchased the first SIDNE® for Saskatchewan!

 

The SIDNE® Campaign was launched in February with a campaign goal of $30,000 and this amount was raised through individual and corporate donations as well as fundraising through some of the high school participants of the P.A.R.T.Y Program.  At the same time an effort was made by BUH Foundation to raise awareness of the service the P.A.R.T.Y. Program provides to the youth of our communities in Prairie North Health Region (PNHR). 

 

“We are grateful to a number of businesses in The Battlefords including Bridges Chevrolet Buick GMC Ltd whose matching donations campaign raised 85% of funds needed, The Battlefords Tim Hortons donating the proceeds from their Smile Cookie campaign, and Saskatchewan Mutual Insurance for their generous contributions” shares Roger Anderson, Chairperson of BUH Foundation Board of Directors, adding, “we are grateful to their commitment to our youth.”

 

BUH Foundation would also like to extend their gratitude to Kramer Trailer Sales, Ultra Print, Innovation Credit Union staff, Scott Campbell Dodge, Royal Canadian Legion Branch No 9, H Hardcastle School students, and Wendy Gunn for their support of the SIDNE® campaign.

 

An “Official Launch” of SIDNE® will take place on Thursday, September 24th at 11:30 am in the Alex Dillabough Centre (421 28th St W, Battleford, SK) parking lot.  If the weather is inclement the launch will be at the Western Development Museum (Hwy 16 & 40), North Battleford, SK.

 

The P.A.R.T.Y® Program at BUH demonstrates to students the consequences of impaired or distracted driving. Over 500 students from The Battlefords and surrounding communities have taken part since it began in 2009.  The P.A.R.T.Y. Program is run in collaboration with the volunteer efforts of BUH ED, the R.C.M.P. and Emergency Medical Services (E.M.S.), and the support of North Battleford Fire Department to promote injury prevention  and enable youth to recognize risk, while making informed decisions and identifying potential consequences about activities and behaviours  while driving. The youth are brought to the hospital to see firsthand what happens in emergency and trauma situations with active presentations from the R.C.M.P., E.M.S., and ED staff. The participants are typically from Grade 9; students that will be obtaining their drivers’ licences in the near future.

 

SIDNE® is a battery operated go-kart and provides a hands-on, engaging lesson about the misuse and abuse of alcohol and other drugs and the dangers of distracted driving through a visual, interactive, hands-on experience.  The instructors can actually “control” SIDNE during the operation of the go-kart exhibiting and verifying in compelling manner to the young driver how they are actually driving while distracted or impaired. 

 

BUH is part of Prairie North Health Region, which serves an area in northwest central Saskatchewan and has a population of over 78,000. There are 196 communities in this Region, with a majority of them being rural. There is the potential for all of the communities to benefit from the P.A.R.T.Y. Program, especially with the addition of SIDNE®. 

 

 

 

 

 

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MEDIA:

For more information, contact:

 

Chris Etcheverry

BUH Emergency Department Nursing Manager

Ph. 306-446-6669

Chris.etcheverry@pnrha.ca

 

Claudette McGuire

BUH Foundation Executive Director

Ph. 306-446-6652

claudette.mcguire@pnrha.ca

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