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Know the consequences of a DUI

  • Published
  • By Staff Sgt. Michael Means
  • 92nd Air Refueling Wing Public Affairs
FAIRCHILD AIR FORCE BASE, Wash. --  The Air Force Alcohol & Drug Abuse Program at Fairchild along with several other base agencies held a fair to remind Airmen of the consequences of driving under the influence at Miller Park, May 16.

"Often people aren't aware of how easily they can be impaired after using alcohol and the risky situations with which they may be involved like driving after drinking, physical altercations and underage use," said Senior Airman Erin Dunn, 92nd Medical Operations Squadron mental health technician. "This year, I wanted to make the fair interactive which is why we held it at Miller Park with games, free BBQ and a band."

The idea for the fair was a result of the prevalence of DUI's that occurred on this base in 2011. The Wing as well as the ADAPT clinic wanted to establish an outreach event that would promote education on responsible alcohol use as well as demonstrate the destructive effects of a DUI.

Many times, people are unaware of alcohol's effects such as impaired motor coordination, slurred speech and slow reaction time. Alcohol will also impair one's judgment and insight and often lead to risky behavior, said Dunn.

The DUI Fair provided a hands-on approach to educate the members of Fairchild about the potentially negative effects of alcohol as well as other substances. Drunk goggles were provided to give participants an opportunity to see how alcohol impairs their vision, distance acuity and depth perception.

The fair also included a Wet Lab which showcased the levels of impairment people experience drinking alcohol.

"The purpose of the Wet Lab was to show how difficult it is to complete a field sobriety test after being only slightly impaired," according to Dunn. "Our hope is that members have the knowledge and skills to make responsible choices about alcohol use in the future to prevent incidences."

According to the National Highway Traffic Safety Administration drunk driving is often a symptom of a larger problem such as alcohol misuse and abuse. Not only do alcohol-impaired motor vehicle crashes cost more than an estimated $37 billion annually but an average of one death occurs every 51 minutes.

Responsible drinking can be defined as having the knowledge behind how alcohol impairs you and knowing your limit so drinking won't negatively impact your family, work or health.

"The ripple effects from a DUI will directly impact a military member's career and can resonate for years," said Tech. Sgt. Amber Martin, 92nd Air Refueling Wing Military Justice noncommisioned officer in charge. "These effects include promotion eligibility, reenlistment status, retraining opportunities, PCS, etc. "

(Senior Airman Erin Dunn contributed to this story)