"A Dose of Reality" Program Overview

 Linda Dutil touches young people's lives with a personal blend of

 seriousness, humor,  and emotion.  Her experience as an emergency room

 nurse has taught her that many choices young people make make often end

 tragically.  For the past several years she has been speaking to thousands of

middle school, high school, and college students across the country about

the dangers of drug use, underage drinking, alcohol poisoning, drinking &

driving, driver and seatbelt safety, and self mutilation.   

           Intervention skills are an important part of this program.  Linda shares

ways to say no and very importantly, things to do if your friend has made poor

choices and has been drinking.  (Very often young people are at a party and

they panic when their friend is in trouble.)  This program brings with it a strong

emphasis to always get help for your friends and why that is critical ... no

matter what the circumstance is.

           Linda doesn't lecture.  She simply shares with students in a 45-minute

 assembly format what happens to them when they

make poor choices.  She shares personal, age

appropriate stories of young people that she has

cared for.  By demonstrating the emergency room overdose or alcohol

poisoning scene, she shows students exactly what they will experience if

rushed to the hospital.  

          This program is not graphic and not at scared-straight approach.  It is

straight forward though.  Linda's program never fails to get and keep the

student's attention.   
 

Topics Addressed

1. Feelings:

• Peer pressure, Worthlessness, "Fitting-in"
   

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2. Alcohol:

• Alcohol poisoning
• Asphyxiation
• College level: How alcohol is metabolized and "Why your friend doesn't appear immediately drunk."

3.  Driver Safety (High School & College Level):

            -- Seatbelt Safety

            -- Drinking & Driving

            -- Driver inattention

4. Drugs:

• Middle School level: "unknown pills/substances", Marijuana
• High School and College level: Street drugs such as Cocaine, Crack, Methamphetamine, Ice, Heroin, Hallucinogens  
• Prescription Drugs, Over the Counter Medication, Diet Pills
• Segment about steroids upon request.

Presentation Guidelines

Length: 45 minutes.  The duration can be shortened or lengthened to meet the needs of the participating school.  Question and answer time after the assembly is welcomed.

Audience size: Any number of students is acceptable.  The optimum range is 200 to 600 students.  Auditoriums, gymnasiums, and cafeterias are acceptable.

Audio-Visual Needs:

• Microphone (hand-held, corded or cordless)
• One medium sized table
• Two chairs
• Display board (such as flip chart, dry erase, or easel)
• Computer, Projector, and Screen for Power Point (If possible, not essential.)

Summary

 "A Dose of Reality" is a unique and different presentation.  Dutil's sincere and engaging personality shines in this energetic and interactive program.  Her compassion and emotion grabs you, pulls you in, and leaves you with a new respect for your physical and mental health.

 This assembly does make a lasting difference in young people's lives.  In a very appealing yet straightforward manner, Dutil delivers a fascinating……….dose of reality!

Linda Dutil, R.N. (Emergency Department Nurse)

         Linda Dutil grew up in the town of Stockbridge, Massachusetts.  As a teenager, she watched the lives of close friends altered by poor choices concerning drugs and alcohol.

 Eventually, she ended up in the state of Maine where she met and married her husband Brian.  Her long time fascination with science and medicine finally brought her to nursing school.   While her three children (now ages 18, 20, and 21) were young, she completed her nursing degree.  She soon discovered her love and fascination for emergency room medicine.  "I found that making a difference in someone's life was a tremendous personal reward," she stated.

Twelve years ago, a local Deputy from the Sheriff's Department called and asked for her assistance in one of the local schools.   

The response to this first presentation was tremendous from both staff and students.  By sharing her experiences as an ER nurse, Linda Dutil helps students consider the consequences of poor choices and enables them to develop healthy attitudes about life!  "The emergency room is the last place anyone wants to visit," Dutil states.  "I hope to make a lasting impression on young people across the country.  I want to empower them with the skills that they need to make good choices which will enable them to stay safe!"