I have been Winnebago County Coroner for over 12 years. I have been involved in presentations to alert citizens of different tragedies/abusive behaviors and other serious issues in order to educate citizens and increase their safety. I am compelled at this time to share what I have seen recently in regard to alcohol related fatalities, the word has to get out! In 2007 there were 41,059 nationwide fatalities overall. Out of those 15, 387 were alcohol related which is 37%. In 2007, Wisconsin had 737 fatalities of which 337 were alcohol related (46%) which is the among the highest among all states. Winnebago County had 15 fatalities and 9 of those were alcohol related (60%). Operating a vehicle under the influence has destroyed too many families. Families that will never be able to talk see or spend time with the deceased because someone has made a terrible error in judgment. If a person who drives drunk and kills somebody lives, that person has nothing to look forward to but prison, but their family can still visit them in jail. However, families who lose a loved one will never see them again. I work with these families and see their pain. I am not promoting prohibition, I do not want to put taverns out of business…I am just saying If you are going to drink, please know how alcohol affects your body. Please know your limits!
Things to consider:
Gender
Weight
Size of drink
Food intake while drinking
# of drinks per hour/ rate of consumptiono
WHO IS DRIVING HOME?(designated driver, cab companies)
I am associated with the Tobacco-Free & Drug-Free Communities Coalition of Winnebago County. Visit this local group’s booth at Country USA or Waterfest where you can learn more about the amount of time it takes to reach 0.0 BAC after drinking. We need to educate citizens, support law enforcement’s efforts, call for legislators to toughen the laws related to OWI and judges need to hand down stiffer penalties for drunk drivers. We need to cut the losses on the highways and streets at every level.
What can you do?
Contact your legislators to ask for stricter penalties, they will listen. http://www.legis.state.wi.us/
If you are with someone who has consumed too much alcohol, don’t let them get behind the wheel.Have a sober driver take them home or call a cab.
If you see someone driving impaired call 911 immediately
Plan ahead and drink responsibly
If you are as passionate as me about this issue, contact Lisa Brown (920) 232-3009 of the Tobacco-Free & Drug-Free Coalition of Winnebago County at the County Health Department www.alcoholalert.com/drunk-driving-statistics.html
Submitted by Winnebago County Coroner Barry L. Busby
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