Greater Cleveland Auto Show
The Rainbow Babies & Children’s Hospital Injury Prevention Center hosted another successful booth at the Auto Show this year. The theme of our booth for this year’s show was "How does alcohol really affect driving?” Fatal Vision Goggles, Pinball Machines and Standardized Field Sobriety Tests were some of the tools used to show alcohol affects the ability to drive and how law enforcement determines if a driver is impaired.
The fatal vision goggles were used to show the participants what it feels like to be impaired at certain blood alcohol content levels. While wearing the goggles, participants tried played a race car video game or played a game of pinball. Also, uniformed police officers administered the Standardized Field Sobriety Tests to demonstrate to the public the loss of motor skills when impaired. Participants would try to walk the line with the goggles, although most could not make it more than a few steps. All those who participated received a fortune cookie, with a reminder: "You Drink & Drive. You Lose." Participants ranged from curious high school students to even more curious parents and grandparents.
Visitors to the booth could gain valuable information on impaired driving through the huge board that was the center piece of the booth. The board had all kinds of information on how alcohol affects the system and descriptions of SFSTs. A big-screen television played educational videos on underage drinking and impaired driving.
Having the opportunity to show thousands of people the destructive effects of driving under the influence will hopefully have a very positive impact in our neighborhoods. Last year 145 people in northeast Ohio were killed in alcohol- related automobile crashes, so it is of extreme importance that we reach as many drivers as we can.
Thanks to all of our volunteers who helped make this ten-day long event possible. Without you, we could not have possibly staffed the booth. Special thanks to Cadillac Music for donating the "Lord of the Rings" pinball game and the race car driving game, and Rent-A-Center for donating a big-screen television and DVD player.
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