A New Difference Maker

  • Published
  • By Airman 1st Class Anthony J. Hyatt
  • 325th Fighter Wing Public Affairs
TYNDALL AIR FORCE BASE, Fla. --  More than 200 Tyndall Airmen were able to experience a new way to make a difference as they sat through the Save-A-Life Tour Wednesday at the Horizon Club.

The Save-A-Life Tour, a national high-impact alcohol awareness program, hopes to make changes in people's lives by showing some of the horrible consequences of driving under the influence, ranging from receiving a driving-under-the-influence ticket or losing a loved one in a drunk-driving accident.

"Some people still think they are immune to the effects of alcohol while driving. Others have the 'it won't happen to me' attitude," said Lt. Col. Malcolm Kemeny, 325th Fighter Wing chief of safety. "The goal of the tour is to convince those people that alcohol effects everyone's driving performance and no one is protected from the horrible consequences of drunk driving."

The Save-A-Life tour was able to grab the attention of the audience through several methods. Along with a charismatic public speaker, the presence of a life-size casket and the use of big banners and big projection screens kept the participants fully engaged. Emotional and graphic videos also helped set the tone for the drinking and driving message.

It took Brian Beldyga, Save-A-Life Tour presenter, the loss of his fiancé to change his ways about drunk driving.

"I never had a clue how many people actually died from drunk driving each year," said Staff Sgt. Morris Dansby, 16th Electronic Warfare Squadron combat shield team leader. "The number is astounding."

"It was a different approach, but seeing the graphic images helped out a lot," said Airman 1st Class Jessica Lamb, 325th Medical Group logistics and Airmen Against Drunk Driving director. "It doesn't matter how much we think alcohol does not effect our driving, even one drink effects it more than we know."

In addition to these methods, there is also a multi-million dollar piece of equipment that hooks people- the DUI simulator.

The DUI simulator creates a realistic drunk driving experience with its multiple screens offering up to 180 degrees field of view. The computer changes the "intoxication level," gradually increasing the driver's "drink" amount and decreasing the responsiveness of controls, which accurately simulates the effect of alcohol on the human coordination system.

"I got to realize how hard it really is for drunk drivers to operate a vehicle," said Airman Lamb, after experiencing the simulator.

For more information about the Save-A-Life Tour, visit www.savealifetour.net.

To get involved with Tyndall's Airman Against Drunk Driving program, call the AADD line at 850-867-0220 or e-mail AADD@tyndall.af.mil.