“This week is an ideal time to remind people about the often serious consequences of using drugs and alcohol,” said Ms Tenille Chambers, Australian Red Cross save-a-mate coordinator.

The Australian Red Cross save-a-mate program was launched last year and aims to reduce the incidents of harm associated with substance abuse in vulnerable young people through the provision of first aid services and dissemination of health related information at youth orientated events.

Since 2003, 40 comprehensively trained save-a-team volunteers have attended 49 events including Battle of the Bands, Flinders and Adelaide University Orientation Balls, The Big Day Out and Schoolies Week, reaching well-over 100,000 young people and assisting 170 party-goers with first aid treatments.

“Save-a-mate teams are there to offer help and educate people; they are not there to judge,” concluded Ms Chambers.

Australian Red Cross is committed to protection of life and health and the development of all services focuses around the need to support those in crisis.   This is achieved by either providing direct services or alternatively providing the support and training that empowers those in disadvantage to address their own issues.

If your organisation is holding a youth oriented event and would like to encourage a safer environment, please contact the Australian Red Cross save-a-mate team on 8100 4613.

AVAILABLE FOR INTERVIEW

• Tenille Chambers, save-a-mate coordinator, Australian Red Cross