Francophone Students Join the P.A.R.T.Y. at TBRHSC

(Thunder Bay, ON – Thursday, February 5, 2015) Today, for the first time, the Thunder Bay Regional Health Sciences Centre (TBRHSC) welcomed French-speaking grade 11 students in Thunder Bay for a one-day injury awareness and prevention program.

P.A.R.T.Y. (Prevent Alcohol and Risk-Related Trauma in Youth) is a program designed to encourage youth to make safer choices when it comes to high-risk behaviors. The day-long event follows the painful journey of trauma patient, from pre-hospital care through to rehabilitation or death and includes an introduction to injury prevention, a trauma scenario by Emergency Medical Services and Police, and a portable Trauma Room tour. Students also learn about substance use and addictions and hear from the regional coroner on how “teen fun can go terribly wrong.”

“We are very grateful to the many community partners who have gone out of their way to coordinate this important event and to make it available to our students in French. This thoughtprovoking day will have a lasting impact and could potentially save lives,” said Denis Malette, Principal, École secondaire catholique de La Vérendrye.

Shonath Kajorinne, P.A.R.T.Y. Program Coordinator, is thrilled to be able to now offer the event in French. “I really wanted to see this program become bilingual so that we can reach more students throughout our region. The amount of support I have had from so many of my French-speaking colleagues both at TBRHSC and in the community has been unbelievable. The credits for the success of this day belong to these amazing, committed, and reliable individuals.”

Unintentional injuries are the leading cause of death in young people, 90% of which are predictable and preventable.

As motor vehicle crashes are one of the most common causes of injury and death, drinking and driving is one of the important messages addressed by P.A.R.T.Y. The program also promotes having a plan for a safe ride home before you go out; wearing your seat belt; the dangers of texting and driving; gateway drugs and how they can lead to addictions; the importance of talking about suicide, not promising secrecy and connecting with help such as the Emergency Department, Crisis Response, Kids Help Phone or counselling centres.

Since TBRHSC launched the program here in 2010, its prevention message has reached students from Lakehead Public Schools, the Thunder Bay Catholic District School Board, Dennis Franklin Cromarty High School, and Nipigon-Red Rock District High School.

Partners include the Thunder Bay District Health Unit, Thunder Bay Police Services, Superior North Emergency Medical Services, Sister Margaret Smith Centre, Regional Coroner’s office, Jenkins’ Funeral Home, Norwest Community Health Centre, Red Cross, St. John’s Ambulance, Crime Stoppers, Ministry of Transportation, and Community Care Access Centre.

The Thunder Bay Regional Health Sciences Foundation helped establish the P.A.R.T.Y. program. Support has also come from the John Andrew’s Foundation, Thunder Bay Police Services Board, Carrel and Partners, Thunder Bay Professional Firefighters Association, Thunder Bay Police Association, Crime Stoppers, Thunder Bay Hydro, Tbaytel, Port Arthur Rotary and Pinewood Ford. Their support enables more opportunities for youth to experience P.A.R.T.Y.

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