Presentation promotes safety on road Published June 7, 2013 By Airman 1st Class Nicole Leidholm 60th Air Mobility Wing Public Affairs TRAVIS AIR FORCE BASE, Calif. -- Travis hosted three Street Smart presentations at the base theater Tuesday. Street Smart is presented by Stay Alive From Education, an organization created by firefighters and paramedics in Florida, dedicated to reducing injuries and fatalities due to drinking and driving and non-compliance with seatbelt use. Street Smart takes audiences into the real-life drama experienced by firefighters and paramedics as they work to save the lives of those who have made poor choices. This program has been reaching students and military personnel around the world with its message since 1988. This presentation helps people make better choices by seeing through the eyes of emergency responders said Chief Master Sgt. John Evalle, 60th Air Mobility Wing command chief. The audience viewed commercials on driving under the influence of drugs and alcohol, texting and driving and driving without a seatbelt. They also viewed photos of real accident scenes and had the opportunity to learn how to prevent these mishaps and the costs of being in an accident. "The trauma calls we respond to the most are motor vehicle accidents," said Vince Easevoli, Florida SAFE incorporated executive director. "They are almost always drug and alcohol related." Traffic mishaps continue to be the No. 1 course of death of Air Mobility Command Airmen, said Tech. Sgt. William Jones, 60th AMW Ground Safety manager. Since 2009, 79 percent of AMC's fatal mishaps were traffic related. "This was a great opportunity to provide our Airmen with the knowledge and tools to increase their personal risk management and prevent mishaps," he said. The presentation finished by putting the audience through a real-life scenario of what happens to a person once they are involved in an accident. It also showed the consequences of a drivers actions and how it affects other people. Easevoli covered every aspect of what first responders and trauma center personnel must do to help a victim, ranging from giving an IV to using what tools a doctor may use in surgery. Easevoli also covered reasons why individuals should always wear their seatbelt. "Most accidents happen in close proximity to your home," Easevoli said. "You are 25-times more likely to die if ejected from a vehicle." If an individual is wearing their seat belt in the event of an accident, the seat belt will keep the individual in the vehicle rather than being ejected, distribute the force of impact and help drivers control the vehicle better. "Stack the odds in your favor," he said. "Wear your seatbelt and all your protective gear when riding a motorcycle, and if you choose to drink and your plans fall through, call Airmen Against Drunk Driving." For more information on the SAFE program and to leave feedback about the presentation, visit www.safeprogram.com.