The weather is heating up, pools are open, coolers are filled and celebratory events are in full swing. This time of year the weekends seem short and the parties are plentiful. Whether you are an adult or a young person there is plenty of fun to be found in Central New York.

There seems to be an increase in the perception that alcohol equals fun. In fact there are many activities in our region that can, and should be enjoyed completely free of alcohol. Things like climbing our beautiful state park trails, waterfalls, swimming, biking, boating and fishing are just a few activities that you can enjoy. Birthdays, graduation parties and neighborhood block parties can be focused on celebrating and socialization without adding alcohol to the mix.

If you choose to include alcohol in your activities remember that it is illegal for anyone under 21 years of age to drink alcohol, whether it is knowingly or unknowingly given to them. Safe, legal alcohol consumption is the responsibility of the person drinking and those around them. If you are over 21 drink responsibly by monitoring your alcohol intake and drink slowly allowing your body to metabolize the alcohol you have ingested.

Despite your best efforts to drink responsibly, sometimes alcohol intoxication or poisoning can occur. To help identify dangerous alcohol poisoning situations, Cortland Prevention Resources has partnered with SUNY Cortland Emergency Squad, CACTC and TC3 to educate young people through a program called the Red Watch Band (RWB).           The mission of the RWB is to educate peers so they can identify an alcohol related emergency and become an active by-stander if necessary. Young people are trained on how to intervene during a potential emergency and how to perform CPR if necessary.

 More than sixty students have completed training in Cortland County this spring and hundreds more will receive training by the end of the year. The goal of the program is to encourage peers to be active by-standers and to prevent alcohol related deaths.

This program is available to individuals sixteen years of age and older. For more information on the Red Watch Band program, visit www.stonybrook.edu/sb /redwatchband/. To register for group training please contact 756-8970 or visit www.7vcasa.org.

Kimberly McRae Friedman is the Acting Director at Cortland Prevention Resources (formerly Seven Valleys Council on Alcoholism and Substance Abuse, Inc.), the Director of the LGBT Resource Center, and an active member of Cortland Area Communities that Care (CACTC).