Teenage injury prevention program launched at hospital
Secondary school students are visiting St John of God Midland Public and Private Hospitals to learn about trauma and injury and see first-hand the impact poor decision making can have on people’s lives.
4 Dec 2017
4 December 2017
Thanks to funding from the Road Safety Commission, the hospital recently joined the Prevent Alcohol and Risk-related Trauma in Youth (PARTY) Program, which helps teenagers recognise potential injury-causing situations and make prevention-oriented choices about activities.
St John of God Midland Public Hospital CEO Michael Hogan said unfortunately too many young people are treated in our Emergency Department for injuries and trauma that have resulted from poor decisions.
“The PARTY Program is designed to help teenagers adopt behaviour and actions that minimise risk,” he said.
"During the visits, students are taken through the common causes of injury due to risk-taking behaviours and treatment and recovery processes.”
During the tours, groups of students hear from a variety of health professionals working in emergency, intensive care, allied health and related areas.
Mr Hogan said the groups are taught about the “ripple effect” of their decisions and how it not only affects them, but others around them, including their friends, families and future work prospects.
The hospital has just completed a four-week pilot of the program and plans to continue the tours next year.
St John of God Midland Public and Private Hospitals is the second Perth metropolitan hospital to undertake the program, which is also run at Royal Perth Hospital.