Hervey Bay students receive vital safety messages courtesy of Council

Hervey Bay State High School was today (Monday, 17 August) the first local school in the region to host a free injury prevention program, with the support of Fraser Coast Regional Council.

Earlier this year, Council awarded the Spinal Education Awareness Team (SEAT) a $1,000 community grant, which would enable SEAT presenters to share their experience and vital safety messages with 1,000 primary and secondary school students throughout the city at no cost to the schools.

SEAT presenter Wayne Leo congratulated the Council for helping SEAT to share powerful messages about safety on the road, in the water and on the sports field.

“There is currently no cure for a spinal cord injury – your spinal cord has the consistency of a banana and once it’s damaged, you have to use a wheelchair for life, which is why SEAT is so important at reaching children with its injury prevention messages,” Wayne said.

“I want to share my story with as many students as possible to prevent them from having a lifelong disability. Since I began with SEAT 22 years ago, I have spoken to almost 245,000 students throughout Queensland.”

Today, Wayne spoke to 240 students from Year 11 and 12 Hervey Bay State High School about how to stay safe and prevent a life-long spinal cord injury.

In the next several months, Wayne will speak to students from Fraser Coast Anglican College, also courtesy of Council.

Fraser Coast Regional Council’s Community and recreation chairman Councillor Les MucKan said reinforcing safety messages was a high priority for Council

“The Council has done a lot to stop youths jumping from jetties along the foreshore. It is very dangerous as the water depth constantly changes and you cannot see the bottom.

“It is very dangerous. You not only risk a spinal injury but you could drown.”

Spinal Injuries Association CEO Mark Henley said the support of Council was much appreciated as prevention was currently the only cure for a spinal cord injury.

“Doctors often describe a spinal cord injury as one of the worst injures you can sustain,” Mr Henley said.

“The effect it has on the body is colossal. Not only do newly-injured patients have to adjust to using a wheelchair, but their bladder and bowel control, body temperature, internal organs, balance, self confidence and emotional wellbeing are also affected.

As a service of the Spinal Injuries Association, SEAT has been operating in Queensland for the past 22 years, with almost 1.3 million children viewing the program in that time.

Issued 17 August.