May 27, 2015 - (Album) "Watch UR BAC" a program sponsored by Texas A&M AgriLife in cooperation with the Texas Department of Transportation (TXDOT) was presented at the Joaquin Independent School District on Wednesday, May 27, 2015.
Students were divided out into seven groups covering multiple age groups from 6th grade students up to seniors. The program was led by Texas AgriLife Extension representatives Bobbi Brooks and Tanner Kilpatrick who provided multiple instructional aids to educate the students on the dangers of underage alcohol use.
Brooks asked the students if they have ever heard of alcohol poisoning and if they knew average age children start drinking, "On a national average the first time that kids start drinking is around age 11."
To give the students an idea of how addiction works, she used the desires for Halloween candy as a comparison so the students could relate to that compulsion. Brooks spoke with the students about establishing a password or phrase with their parents for such an event as they feel they are in danger or don't want to ride with someone because they are intoxicated.
A video was played for the students telling the story of Carson Starkey who was attending California Polytechnic State University and who died of alcohol poisoning on December 2, 2008. The video included friends, family and school mates of Starkey telling his story and what happened to him on the night he passed away. He and another college student were pledging to a fraternity when he ingested too much alcohol. Fear of legal action against them prevented fellow students from seeking medical attention for Starkey and as a result he died.
"It's really important that if you think somebody might have alcohol poisoning that you would call and get help for them," said Brooks.
A law passed by the Texas Legislature in 2011, Senate Bill 1331, gives a limited immunity to someone under the age of 21 if the person calls 9-1-1 and remains on scene to cooperate with EMS and law enforcement.
"There is a law that protects you. If you are the very first person to call and get help then they won't investigate you for charges of minor in possession or minor in consumption. So if you suspect somebody has alcohol poisoning it's really important that you help them," said Brooks.
After the video about Starkey was shown, Brooks reviewed the signs of alcohol poisoning with the students. Some of these signs included: mental confusion, seizures/stupor, throwing up, hypothermia, erratic or slow breathing, loss of consciousness and pale or bluish skin.
Students heard the story of College Station Police Officer Tracy Sheets and a crash involving another driver, Alex Ford, who was intoxicated, "Tracy Sheets, she grew up, she wanted to be a police officer that's what she wanted to do in life," said Brooks.
Brooks described Sheets attending Stephen F. Austin State University, earning a degree and becoming a police officer in College Station, "One night in January, it's been about three years ago, they got a call for somebody drag racing. Somebody was going really fast that was in a [Maserati]," said Brooks.
Alex Ford, a college student out of Houston, was behind the wheel and Brooks said she was showing off for her passengers. As Officer Sheets rounded a street corner, the Maserati collided with her patrol car head-on and almost all of the bones in her legs were broken ending her career as a police officer.
Ford was given a second chance by the judge ruling over her case and she received probation. Brooks explained there were three requirements of Ford's probation including not drinking alcohol, not going to a bar and abiding by a curfew. The new years eve following the incident Ford did not abide by any of the requirements of her probation and she is now in prison serving a six year sentence.
When Ford was out partying on that News Year's Eve she was with friends and Brooks says the judge discovered she had broken her probation agreement when photos on social media depicting her activities were discovered.
To provide students with a way to understand the effects of alcohol on motor skills, they were provided with goggles that provide a distorted perception and were required to perform such simple tasks as placing a tennis ball on top of a safety cone. Driving in a DWI Prevention Simulator demonstrated for students the difficulty and danger of driving while intoxicated and students also drove a four-wheel cart in and out of safety cones to demonstrate this as well.
When the program was presented at the Center Police Department to families with teenagers, Brooks and Kilpatrick allowed all the youth and adults attending to take a seat in the simulator. Brooks spoke about Texas law including legal limit for intoxication in Texas being .08 BAC (blood or breath alcohol concentration); however, impaired drivers can be stopped and arrested regardless of BAC.
Social hosting was also discussed. Brooks explained, "Social hosting is a big thing we like to try and cover in these outlying areas. Social hosting is anytime an adult or even someone under the age of 21 provides alcohol to somebody who is under 21. They can be charged with Social Hosting which is a year in jail and a $4,000 fine. So parents are ultimately responsible for any property they own, pastures, houses, if they rent a hotel room or if they rent a beach house, or anything like that. You cannot host a party and take everybody's keys and serve alcohol. It's against the law."
Parents were informed about trends in alcohol and drugs to help them be aware of what teenagers do to keep what they are doing a secret. For more information about the Watch UR BAC program, visit online http://watchurbac.tamu.edu/ or on Facebook https://www.facebook.com/watchurbac
Edna Boykins with the City of Center Municipal Court coordinated the event at the Center PD, "I was excited about the program and thrilled with the turnout. I want to thank AgriLife and TxDOT for providing the program and thank all the parents who brought their children. We really had a good time and the program went well."
This program, funded by Texas A&M AgriLife Extension and TxDOT, is a sister program to "When Sean Speaks" which was in Shelby County on May 8, 2015. See the related story here.
