A pledge to protect partyers
This is a very interesting and innovative approach to reduce deaths from binge/over drinking by students; however, does it address the problem properly? This is certainly a potential step in the right direction but will it really "solve" the problem that we have seen way too many times this academic year?
The drinking death of a fraternity pledge in September left Anthony Rossi with the feeling that he could have done more.
Only weeks before, Rossi - a pre-med student at the University of Colorado - had thought of a way to keep parties safe and get some firsthand medical experience along the way. But classes started, his fraternity obligations picked up, and Rossi put his idea on the shelf.
Not anymore. In the next couple of weeks, Rossi and a handful of other trained undergraduates will be available to staff fraternity parties in an effort to prevent another death from binge drinking or other forms of abuse.
"People are dying at these parties all across the nation because no one is recognizing that these kids are at risk," Rossi said.
The pilot program, Student Emergency Medical Services, will be a fully licensed collection of volunteer CU students with certifications in emergency medicine. While campuses around the country offer similar programs, it is believed that CU's would be the first group to target parties.
"We are not at all there to police a party," Rossi said. "We are not there to tell people what to do. ... We are there to simply recognize (problems) and save lives."
I am reminded of a very interesting poem that has a moral, A Fence or an Ambulance, which in essence asks the question, "Which is better in the long run, prevention or cure?" I will leave that ethical delimma to you. However, any life saved whether through prevention or cure is worth the effort!!!!
