UNISON Paramedic Wins Top Health Campaign Award, UK

Main Category: Alcohol / Addiction / Illegal Drugs
Article Date: 17 Dec 2007 - 4:00 PDT

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UNISON member Steve Evans, a North West Ambulance paramedic, picked up the top prize at last night's Health Business Awards 2007 for his Don't Walk Away and Leave a Friend to DIE Campaign.

He received the first NHS Publicity Campaign Award, beating a million pound a week campaign, at the award ceremony at the Royal College of Physicians in London last night.

Steve's campaign, part-sponsored by UNISON, is aimed at alerting young people to the dangers of alcohol and providing advice on what to do in emergencies. Steve started his campaign after seeing youngsters left drunk and dangerously ill, abandoned by their friends after drinking bouts. Friends fled because they were worried they would get into trouble for under-age drinking.

Steve's message is simple:

"Don't drink in the first place, but equally don't walk away from your friends if they get drunk. They could end up seriously ill or even die if you do walk away. Stay with them and get medical help."

Steve has taken his campaign into schools and youth clubs. His latest DVD is available over the Christmas and New Year period. He is delighted with his award, and said.

"I am so pleased that my campaign, run at very little cost, has won this award. It beat some of the million pound health education campaigns and shows how important this sort of message is. I just hope this helps spread the word to more kids".

UNISON General Secretary Dave Prentis commented:

"Steve has done a magnificent job in setting up and running this campaign and I am proud that UNISON has been able to assist with the funding needed to help keep it going." According to the judges, Steve's campaign " has achieved an immense amount of publicity, including coverage on local and National television on an extremely limited budget. For his monumental efforts to raise awareness of a life saving issue Steve has been awarded the first NHS Publicity Campaign Award."

The Health Business Awards aims to recognise the many examples of excellence taking place in the National Health Service.

http://www.unison.org