Some celebratory tips from the survivor of a crash with a drunken driver.
As a proud American for 32 years, I will rejoice with the public on the Fourth of July. I also intend to protect lives that may be damaged or end tragically from drunken drivers. Listen to my words, taken from experience.
A coma, paralysis, multiple broken and dislocated bones, a high fever and a brain injury were a few of my wounds after a drunken driver hit me head-on in 1992 when I was just 16. I lost most of my hearing and ability to drive, yet I am encouraged to help keep others from having to face what I’ve had to face.
Here are some tips for people to keep in mind over the upcoming holiday.
• Never drink on an empty stomach. Food will not erase alcohol, but it slows down intoxication.
• Know your limits. Be careful when drinking alcohol. Your behavior, body movements, attitude and many other things change with alcohol. You will give people the wrong impression of yourself.
• Drink slowly. The faster you finish an alcoholic beverage, the quicker you will get another one. You will be bombed before the fireworks are set off. Do you benefit from that?
• Stay with drinks you are familiar with, those in which the alcohol strength is known.
• If you start to feel drunk, stop drinking. Blurry vision, slurred speech and difficulty maintaining your balance is intoxication. Becoming drunk is sad, because you basically lose your maturity. Time alone gets rid of alcohol — coffee produces a wide-awake drunk.
• Choose a designated driver who will not drink alcohol and will drive those who do. Is it necessary for me to emphasize how important this is? You know the grave consequences driving drunk can cause, so why take the risk?
Each person reacts differently to alcohol, yet my safe tactics for drinking and driving are recommended for all.
Simply, don’t drive drunk.
• Lori A. Martin is a lifelong Tracy resident and graduate of Tracy High School.
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Listen to her,
In between drinking, drink something else besides alcoholic beverage, to dilute the effect.... gives the liver a break in filtering the alcohol in the system. Sugar-alcohol-formaldehyde! That is what you are pouring into your body. Moderation is fine, with food, when you feel light headed, that is too much, your liver is not keeping up the filtering process.
Think of your health, and safety for yourself and others.
Celebrate with joy, LOVE America this year, we don't know which direction our country will go with the New President.
Love your family more by making good choices BEFORE drinking, not after, since it does impair decisions. Leave confrontational subjects alone, minimizes family fights!!! I would like to celebrate, too, but not in the trauma room!!!
-amy