Hurlburt Field Airmen assemble against drunk-driving

  • Published
  • By Airman 1st Class Joe McFadden
  • 1st Special Operations Wing Public Affairs
11/06/2009 --  Hundreds of Hurlburt Field Airmen gathered at Commando Hanger Nov. 5 and 6 for mass briefings about the dangers of drunk driving.

The events were planned as part of the Save a Life tour, a group that provides testimonials and information about alcohol abuse and its consequences to military and college communities.

Maj. Eric Hanley, 1st Special Operations Wing Safety Office, coordinated with the tour to hold the briefings at the base for the benefit of Airmen between the ages of 18 to 26.

"We targeted the demographic because for many of them this is their first time away from home. We wanted to show them the real-life, hard-hitting effects of drunk driving," he said.

Once the date was set, Major Hanley then allocated time slots for individuals to spend time with representatives from substance abuse awareness groups like Alcohol and Drug Abuse Prevention and Treatment.

The briefings began with a video presentation warning about drunk driving including survivors of real-life tragedies and graphic footage from hospitals and the accidents' aftermath.

"You can save lives by being-in-your-face about drunk-driving, so it's well worth it," Major Hanley said.

Airman 1st Class Joseph Burns, 19th Special Operations Squadron, said the videos sent a clear message about the risks associated with alcohol behind the wheel.

"A lot of drunk-driving videos feature actors just reading lines. This was real footage from emergency rooms. You saw pain and blood and the real consequences to those decisions. It was very effective in getting people to not to do it," he said.

Matt Kwant is a presenter who travels with the Save a Life program. He was in charge of the driving simulator, the main event of the tour. The machine simulates driving under a blood alcohol level associated with a corresponding number of drinks. If the level was above zero and an Airman started the car, they would fail because the level is beyond the legal amount.

"It's part of the Wingman concept to look after your friend, especially if that means handing them the keys," he said.

When participants finished with the simulator, Mr. Kwant handed out fake citations with facts about driving drunk.

"They take this very seriously, because drunk driving is not a joke. The session here can still be fun, and I'm glad everyone gets something out of it," he said.

Staff Sgt. Naya Hernandez, 823rd RED HORSE Squadron, said the simulator was very realistic.

"The screen was blurred and hazy, and everything was going by very fast. It's very scary what can happen to you," she said.

Sergeant Hernandez said that while the lessons of the briefings were important, they shouldn't be reserved for a set age group.

"It's good that they have this, but they should do it for everyone. Older people can drive drunk, too," she said.