
Program Made Possible through $170,000 Donation from Anheuser-Busch
ST. LOUIS (July 21, 2010) - Safe driving and making responsible choices when behind the wheel are just as important for our military personnel as they are for civilians. That’s why Anheuser-Busch has donated $170,000 to Street Smart, a program organized by Stay Alive From Education (S.A.F.E.), to visit 50 military installations across the United States.
Street Smart takes audiences into the real-life drama experienced by firefighter/paramedics as they work to save the lives of those who have made poor choices about underage drinking, drunk driving, using illegal drugs or not wearing a seat belt. The program has been shared with more than 185,000 members of the U.S. military since 2003.
“This educational program is an extension of Anheuser-Busch’s long history of supporting the men and women of the U.S. Armed Forces,” said Kathy Casso, vice president of corporate social responsibility for Anheuser-Busch. “Street Smart is effective because it delivers life-saving content in a format that engages the audience rather than lecture them.”
During Street Smart presentations, the paramedics walk the audience through what happens at a trauma scene using the medical equipment they employ daily in their jobs. From taking a pulse, to loading the victim onto a backboard, to simulating an IV-line being inserted, the audience can see and feel what it’s like to try to save a life and what it’s like to be the victim. More than a demonstration, audiences learn the stories behind the crashes, they hear the choices that individuals were given, and they see irresponsible actions played out.
“We travel the country giving Street Smart presentations to students, organizations and businesses, but it’s giving presentations to military men and women that truly stand out for us,” said Scott Neusch, secretary and treasurer of S.A.F.E. “Thanks to the support of Anheuser-Busch, we can ensure military personnel have access to our important messages about making smart choices and safe driving. This is the least we can do for those who give so much for all of us.”
Street Smart is one of more than two dozen community-based alcohol awareness and education programs sponsored by Anheuser-Busch. It is presented by members of S.A.F.E, a non-profit organization created by Firefighter/ paramedics from the state of Florida, dedicated to reducing injuries and fatalities. S.A.F.E. has been reaching students and military personnel across the United States with its powerful message, and the program is available to help people be “street smart” when it comes to decisions on underage drinking, drunk driving or illegal drug use. To learn more about S.A.F.E., visit www.safeprogram.com.