Health Watch is a Public Service of the Office of News and Publications and is intended to provide general information only and should not replace the advice of a medical professional. You should contact your physician if you have questions about any of these topics.
This week on Health Watch, we’re talking about spring break. For many college students, spring break means hitting the beach — and hitting the booze. Spring break festivities are sometimes even sponsored by companies that sell alcoholic beverages. Doctors at UT Southwestern Medical Center say that if you’re going to participate in these activities, don’t drive.
Dr. Kathleen Delaney, a UT Southwestern emergency room physician, says about 75 percent of the major motor vehicle accident injuries seen in the emergency room are alcohol-related. Drinking and driving can have serious medical and legal consequences. If you plan to drink, designate a driver, call a cab or make transportation plans that don’t require getting behind the wheel. Even if you aren’t driving, avoid drinking so much that you aren’t aware of your surroundings. That can be just as dangerous as driving drunk.
Visit http://www.utsouthwestern.edu/patientcare/medicalservices/hospitals/stpaul.html to learn more about UT Southwestern’s clinical service in emergency medicine.
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March 2008
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