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Happy summer! With the 4th of July upon us (and for all holidays), it is important to consider safety when planning your celebration. Here are some reminders to ensure a fun and safe summer when your plans include alcohol:
  • Keep hydrated to minimize problems while drinking: Soaring temperatures combined with the dehydrating effects of alcohol can lead to problems. Make sure every other drink is a non-alcoholic one. When hosting, make sure you provide plenty of cold, non-alcoholic choices for your guests.
  • Alcohol affects everyone differently: learn how it affects you by using Responsibility.org's Virtual Bar app. Remember that the legal driving limit in the United States is 0.08, and know how your alcohol intake impacts your BAC.
  • Alcohol and water recreation do not mix:
    Impaired judgment from even low levels of alcohol use can increase risk taking, leading surfers to attempt more dangerous waves and swimmers to underestimate the pull of a riptide or dive into too-shallow water.
  • Make sure your event does not become a "booze cruise:" The National Institute on Alcohol Abuse and Alcoholism reports that alcohol may be involved in 60% of boating fatalities, including falling overboard. In addition to impairing judgment and reaction time, alcohol can impair balance and vision - which can lead to injuries for all aboard.
  • Summer months increase the risk of impaired driving: When planning your celebration, make sure you include one or more of these options for a safe return home:
    • Ensure someone in your group is the designated, non-drinking driver
    • Check local transit schedules
    • Load a ridesharing app onto your smartphone
    • Save the number for a cab company into your phone
    Any of these ideas make it easy to not drink and drive at the end of the night.
Enjoy the 4th and lots of safe summer fun in July!
Gordie Center Updates
HazingPrevention.Org's founder, Tracy Maxwell, with Susie
Susie facilitates a working group session at the Hazing Prevention Institute
Susie with HPO Board Member Lianne Kowiak, whose son Harrison died in a hazing incident at Lenoir-Rhyne University
2018 Hazing Prevention Institute
Gordie Center Director Susie Bruce was a Faculty Fellow at HazingPrevention.Org's 2018 Hazing Prevention Institute. Susie attended the Institute at Louisiana State University on June 18th through June 20th, where she facilitated discussions with teams of administrators, students, and staff. The Gordie Center was grateful for the opportunity to partner with HazingPrevention.Org, and Susie enjoyed meeting participants and hearing about their campus commitments to end hazing.

If you missed the opportunity to attend this particular hazing prevention institute, there is still time to attend one this summer! NovakTalks and RISE Partnerships are hosting the Interdisciplinary Institute for Hazing Prevention in Knoxville, TN on July 18-20th, and registration for that institute is ongoing!
A quick housekeeping note: the Gordie Center email address was not properly accepting new messages in early June. Our IT folks have fixed the problem; we apologize if you tried to reach us during that time and received an error or did not receive a response. We love to hear from you and look forward to your emails!

Until next month,

Susie Bruce, Director
Jill Maurer, National Development & Program Coordinator
The Gordie Center
 [email protected] | www.gordie.org
 


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