ma_12_26

MEDIA ADVISORY

Date of Advisory: December 26, 1997

Emergency Medical Director Issues Sobering - New Year's Message to Parents: Don't Let Your Teens Party in Tijuana Bars

Contact: Dana Stevens 238-7034 (day) 682-9631 (pager) or Ana Cobian 557-7038 (day) 494-7287 (pager)

WHAT: Gail Cooper, Director of San Diego County’s Emergency Medical Services leads a coalition of concerned parents and community leaders to issue a sobering appeal to parents:

"You play a critical role in preventing your teens from becoming an alcohol-related statistic." Drinking alcohol is not a rite of passage. It’s dangerous business. Parents here today urge other parents not make light of it with their children

VISUALS: Blow-up of last year’s Union Tribune article describing the border scene last New Year’s Eve and new, rare and dramatic video footage taken in Tijuana.

WHY: In 1996 San Diego County had 92 alcohol related fatal collisions killing 105 people. Another 2,997 people were injured. These incidents were not accidents, but were preventable. Tragically, alcohol related crashes kill more people between 16 and 24 than any other single cause.

In San Diego County the problem is exacerbated by the lure to Tijuana bars where the legal drinking age is 18 and enforcement is minimal. Last year the San Diego Union Tribune reported that a swarm of 9,000 New Year’s Eve revelers returning to the US from Tijuana (many bandaged, bleeding and passed out) gave the appearance of "a war zone."

WHEN: MONDAY, DECEMBER 29th 11:00 am

WHERE: PARADISE VALLEY HOSPITAL - Emergency Rm. 2400 E. 4th St., National City

WHO: Emergency medical personnel and parents from across San Diego County, active in helping to prevent alcohol related tragedies from overshadowing the holiday season.

Event Spokesperson/Participants

Gail Cooper, Director, San Diego County Emergency Medical Services

Ma Cobian, Representative, US. Attorney Alan Bersin

Rosemary Peyron, Committee to Reclaim Our Neighborhoods

Dr. Richard Stennes, Director of Emergency Medical Services at Paradise Valley Hospital

Craig Levitt, MADD ‘s Youth in Action

lus: Etta McQueary, Project Coordinator, TRAC; Dana Stevens, Program Director, Underage Drinking Initiative; Dana Richardson, Partners For Preventions; Jacqueline Rembo, Healthy Beginnings.

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