New DVD sends strong message about spinal cord injuries
Published Thursday, 29 May, 2008 at 02:15 PM
Minister for Main Roads and Local Government
The Honourable Warren Pitt
Main Roads Minister and Member for Mulgrave Warren Pitt today launched a new DVD aimed at helping to reduce the incidence of spinal cord injuries.
Mr Pitt launched the 17-minute DVD in front of Gordonvale High School's year 12 students.
"Senior high school students fall within the highest risk age category – between the ages of 15 and 30 – for the majority of all spinal cord injuries,” Mr Pitt said.
"The DVD profiles four Queenslanders with spinal cord injuries who range in age from 19 to early 40s. It explores their personal journeys, providing viewers with an insight into the life of a person with a spinal cord injury as well as imparting strong injury prevention messages.
"One of the people profiled is Brisbane teenager Amber Van Dam, who was travelling in the boot of a speeding car when it crashed just days before her year 12 exams.
"This is a tragic case about a peer that students can relate to and which helps send the message that nobody is bulletproof."
On hand to help launch the ‘Nobody’s Bulletproof’ DVD was Gordonvale resident Ian Chill, a former navy officer who also features in the DVD. Mr Chill fell down a cliff while on a peace-keeping mission in the Solomon Islands.
Mr Pitt said the DVD was produced by the Spinal Education Awareness Team (SEAT), an innovative program run by the Spinal Injuries Association that has given presentations to more than 1.1 million children in Queensland.
During the past 21 years, the SEAT program has been providing practical information on how to keep safe in the classroom, on the roads, in the water, on the sports field and at home.
The DVD launch follows last month’s announcement of Main Roads’ three-year sponsorship of the SEAT safety program.
Mr Pitt said that for the past 21 years, the 14-strong team of passionate and dedicated volunteers – all of whom have paraplegia or quadriplegia and use a wheelchair – had made thousands of visits to preschools, primary schools and secondary schools throughout the state.
"Main Roads' contribution will help the team achieve its goal of sharing their powerful spinal injury prevention messages with 80,000 children in 2008," Mr Pitt said.
"Statistics from the past 20 years show that motor vehicle accidents are the most common cause of spinal injuries in Queensland. With increased funding, the SEAT volunteers and the Spinal Injuries Association can reach even more children and help to spread the safety message.”
Media contact: Minister Pitt’s Office 3227 8819
Mr Pitt launched the 17-minute DVD in front of Gordonvale High School's year 12 students.
"Senior high school students fall within the highest risk age category – between the ages of 15 and 30 – for the majority of all spinal cord injuries,” Mr Pitt said.
"The DVD profiles four Queenslanders with spinal cord injuries who range in age from 19 to early 40s. It explores their personal journeys, providing viewers with an insight into the life of a person with a spinal cord injury as well as imparting strong injury prevention messages.
"One of the people profiled is Brisbane teenager Amber Van Dam, who was travelling in the boot of a speeding car when it crashed just days before her year 12 exams.
"This is a tragic case about a peer that students can relate to and which helps send the message that nobody is bulletproof."
On hand to help launch the ‘Nobody’s Bulletproof’ DVD was Gordonvale resident Ian Chill, a former navy officer who also features in the DVD. Mr Chill fell down a cliff while on a peace-keeping mission in the Solomon Islands.
Mr Pitt said the DVD was produced by the Spinal Education Awareness Team (SEAT), an innovative program run by the Spinal Injuries Association that has given presentations to more than 1.1 million children in Queensland.
During the past 21 years, the SEAT program has been providing practical information on how to keep safe in the classroom, on the roads, in the water, on the sports field and at home.
The DVD launch follows last month’s announcement of Main Roads’ three-year sponsorship of the SEAT safety program.
Mr Pitt said that for the past 21 years, the 14-strong team of passionate and dedicated volunteers – all of whom have paraplegia or quadriplegia and use a wheelchair – had made thousands of visits to preschools, primary schools and secondary schools throughout the state.
"Main Roads' contribution will help the team achieve its goal of sharing their powerful spinal injury prevention messages with 80,000 children in 2008," Mr Pitt said.
"Statistics from the past 20 years show that motor vehicle accidents are the most common cause of spinal injuries in Queensland. With increased funding, the SEAT volunteers and the Spinal Injuries Association can reach even more children and help to spread the safety message.”
Media contact: Minister Pitt’s Office 3227 8819